Showing papers in "Journal of Applied Social Psychology in 2001"
TL;DR: For instance, this paper found that conservative and liberal were more likely to moralize and to condemn these acts, but the differences were concentrated in the homosexual scenarios and were minimal in the incest scenarios.
Abstract: Political conservatives and liberals were interviewed about 3 kinds of sexual acts: homosexual sex, unusual forms of masturbation, and consensual incest between an adult brother and sister. Conservatives were more likely to moralize and to condemn these acts, but the differences were concentrated in the homosexual scenarios and were minimal in the incest scenarios. Content analyses reveal that liberals had a narrow moral domain, largely limited to the “ethics of autonomy” (Shweder. Much, Mahapatra, & Park, 1997) while conservatives had a broader and more multifaceted moral domain. Regression analyses show that, for both groups, moral judgments were best predicted by affective reactions, and were not predicted by perceptions of harmfulness. Suggestions for calming the culture wars over homosexuality are discussed.
372 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors developed and tested a model in which transformational leadership affects sports performance indirectly, through the mediating effects of intrinsic motivation, using LISREL ‘4111 data.
Abstract: We developed and tested a model in which transformational leadership affects sports performance indirectly, through the mediating effects of intrinsic motivation. During the season. 168 university athletes provided data on their perceptions of their coach’s transformational leadership and their own intrinsic motivation. At the end of the season, their coaches assessed the performance of the athletes. Using LISREL ‘4111, three models were estimated following the sequence of mediator tests outlined by Kelloway (1996, 1998). The proposed model received considerable support. The results isolate intrinsic motivation as a mediator of the relationship between transformational leadership and sports performance, suggesting that transformational leadership may enhance intrinsic interest in the task.
279 citations
TL;DR: This paper examined whether a sentencing demand has a direct influence on a given sentence and found that the influence is independent of the perceived relevance of the sentencing demand and independent of judges' experience.
Abstract: Research on juridical decision making has demonstrated that largely disparate sentences are often given for identical crimes. This may be the case because judges' sentencing decisions are influenced by a recommended or demanded sentence. Building on research on judgmental anchoring (Tversky & Kahneman, 1974), the present investigation examines whether a sentencing demand has a direct influence on a given sentence. Using criminal trial judges as participants, Study 1 demonstrates that such a direct influence does, in fact, exist. Sentencing decisions are assimilated to the sentence demanded by the prosecutor. Study 2 further reveals that this influence is independent of the perceived relevance of the sentencing demand. Study 3 demonstrates that this influence is also independent of judges' experience.
272 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors introduced new measures of ethnicity-related stress and a newly adapted measure of ethnic identity, which were perceived discrimination, stereotype confirmation concern, and own-group conformity pressure.
Abstract: This study introduces new measures of ethnicity-related stress and a newly adapted measure of ethnic identity. Ethnicity-related stressors assessed in this study were perceived discrimination, stereotype confirmation concern, and own-group conformity pressure. Ethnic identity refers to the subjective sense of ethnic group membership and, following Luhtanen and Crocker (1992), was assessed as public regard, identity centrality, and private feelings. Data for 333 undergraduates from diverse ethnic groups indicated that the measures are psychometrically sound. Ethnic group differences for mean scores demonstrated the measures’ known-groups validity. Cross-sectional analyses indicated that ethnicity-related stress and identity constructs captured by the instruments are related to measures of psychological and physical well-being. The new measures may be useful in the investigation of psychological aspects of ethnicity and their adaptive consequences.
246 citations
TL;DR: In this article, two studies designed to test a theory of planned behavior-based model of blood donation were conducted, and found that self-efficacy, perceived control over behavior (PCB), self-identity, and moral norm were all independently predictive of intention; behavioral intention predicted a proxy measure of behavioral enaction.
Abstract: This article reports two studies designed to test a theory of planned behavior-based model of blood donation. In Study 1 (n= 136), self-efficacy and self-identity accounted for unique variance in behavioral intention. Study 2 (n= 172) extended Study 1: self-efficacy, perceived control over behavior (PCB), self-identity, and moral norm were all independently predictive of intention; behavioral intention predicted a proxy measure of behavioral enaction. Both studies provided evidence to support a distinction between self-efficacy and PCB, and for the inclusion of self-identity and moral norm into the model. Belief-based measures discriminated intenders from nonintenders, and beliefs that accounted for unique variance in self-efficacy and PCB were identified. The findings are discussed in relation to using models such as the theory of planned behavior to intervene in social and health behaviors.
245 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used Ajzen's (1991) theory of planned behavior as the theoretical framework for deriving and systematically testing hypotheses as to how an intervention (a “free” ticket for public transportation) influences the travelmode choice of students.
Abstract: In the context of a 2-wave panel study, we used Ajzen’s (1991) theory of planned behavior (TPB) as the theoretical framework for deriving and systematically testing hypotheses as to how an intervention (a “free” ticket for public transportation) influences the travelmode choice of students. The empirical results show that this intervention caused a drastic decrease in students’ car use. The effect of the intervention on behavior is mediated by the causal chain postulated by the TPB. In the second step, we analyzed whether there were subgroup-specific reactions to the intervention. Surprisingly, the subgroup analysis shows that students with more negative attitudes toward policy measures restricting car use reacted more strongly to the intervention than did students with a more positive attitude. The focus of the present study is the evaluation and theory-driven explanation of the effects of an environmental policy measure aiming to reduce students’ car use for university routes. At present, in the literature one finds only weakly interconnected lines of research on this question. One line concentrates on environmental behavior change, as targeted by behavior analysts and others designing interventions to encourage environmental preservation behavior (Dwyer, Leeming, Cobem, Porter, & Jackson, 1993; Geller et al., 1990; Geller, Winett, & Everett, 1982; Kruse & Arit, 1984). If Dwyer et al. are right, this research had its first peak in the late 1970s and 198Os, and it is stagnating at the moment. According to Dwyer et al., behavioral scientists became discouraged by the lack of support and the difficulty of working with large systems, public policies, and deeply ingrained cultural practices, in spite of some successhl demonstrations. Another problem that can be identified in much of the work in this area is the lack of a clear theoretical framework for developing and studying the effects of socialscience-based interventions.
201 citations
TL;DR: This article found that the emotional contagion effect of charismatic leadership occurs when a leader exhibits truly charismatic behavior, characterized by nonverbal expressiveness and immediacy, would lead via emotional contagions to the imitation of the leader's nonverbal behavior.
Abstract: Two studies were conducted to test the hypothesis that charismatic leadership, characterized by nonverbal expressiveness and immediacy, would lead via emotional contagion to the imitation of the leader's nonverbal behavior. In Study I, charismatic leaders were college students whose performance of a simulated campaign speech included more smiles, more intense smiles, and longer and more frequent visual attention to the audience. Observers showed higher levels of all 4 relevant behaviors while watching charismatic leaders. In Study 2, college student participants watched more and less charismatic excerpts selected from President Clinton's and ex-President Bush's responses during their first 1992 televised debate. Comparing the same behaviors, there was a similar pattern to Study I for responses to the Clinton excerpts, and an almost reversed pattern for the Bush excerpts. The overall results support an emotional contagion effect of charismatic leadership when the leader exhibits truly charismatic behavior.
192 citations
TL;DR: The authors examined the effects of trait driving anger, aggressive stimuli, and anonymity on aggressive driving behavior in a driving simulation task and found that participants drove more aggressive when they were anonymous (d =.28) and exposed to aggressive stimuli versus nonaggressive stimuli.
Abstract: We examined the effects of trait driving anger, aggressive stimuli, and anonymity on aggressive driving behavior in a driving simulation task. High and low driving anger participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: (a) anonymous vs. identifiable driver; and (b) exposure to aggressive stimuli versus nonaggressive stimuli. Participants drove more aggressively when they were anonymous (d = .28) and exposed to aggressive stimuli (d = .05). Males drove more aggressively than did females (d = .06). No main or interaction effects were found for trait driving anger (road rage). Results suggest that situational factors affecting other forms of aggression are also important in aggressive driving.
184 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a theoretical framework to account for Whites' attitudes toward Asian Americans was developed and tested in three studies and an attitude Toward Asians (ATA) scale was developed.
Abstract: A theoretical framework to account for Whites' attitudes toward Asian Americans was developed and tested in 3 studies. An Attitude Toward Asians (ATA) scale was developed and found to be valid and reliable. Consistent with the framework, a negative factor and a positive factor were found to underlie attitudes toward Asian Americans. As expected, negative attitudes were shown to stem from both negative and positive instrumental attributes, whereas positive attitudes stemmed from positive instrumental and noninstrumental attributes. Predictions regarding emotional reactions to Asian Americans and attitude ambivalence were supported. Attitudes toward Asian Americans were also shown to influence judgments of African Americans. Implications and future research directions are discussed.
168 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the relationship between four dimensions of moral intensity and the ethical decision-making process and found that moral intensity dimensions were associated with individuals' ethical decisions.
Abstract: Moral intensity is a construct that relates to issues in terms of their perceived moral significance. Individuals' perceptions of moral intensity should impact their recognition of issues as posing moral dilemmas and should also affect ethical judgments and behavioral intentions regarding issues. This study examined the relationship between 4 dimensions of moral intensity and the ethical decision-making process. Two work-related actions were presented to respondents, who then completed measures of the 4 dimensions of moral intensity, whether the actions posed an ethical issue, ethical judgments regarding the actions, and the likelihood that they would engage in the actions. Results indicate that moral intensity dimensions were associated with individuals' ethical decisions. Social consensus and seriousness of consequences were particularly important influences on the ethical decision-making process.
165 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of message framing on beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors relevant to cigarette smoking were examined. But, they focused on the benefits of adopting a health behavior rather than the risks of not adopting it (losses).
Abstract: Persuasive health messages can be framed to emphasize the benefits of adopting a health behavior (gains) or the risks of not adopting it (losses). This study examined the effects of message framing on beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors relevant to cigarette smoking. In video presentations about tobacco smoking, visual images and auditory voiceover content were framed either as gains or losses, yielding 4 message conditions. Undergraduates (N= 437) attending a public university in New England were assigned randomly to view one of these messages. Gain-framed messages about smoking in visual and auditory modalities shifted smoking-related beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors in the direction of avoidance and cessation. Health-communication experts, when promoting prevention behaviors like smoking avoidance or cessation, may wish to diverge from the tradition of using loss-framed messages and fear appeals in this domain, and instead consider using gain-framed appeals that present the advantages of not smoking.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors found that negative social control was associated with the tendency to engage in potentially health-compromising behaviors, whereas positive social control associated with attempts to engaging in the desired behavior, and that most associations between experiencing social control and the target's behavioral responses could be accounted for, at least partially, by the target response to the social control attempts.
Abstract: Married couples (N= 69) reported on their use of social control strategies in attempting to modify each other's health behaviors, as well as their affective and behavioral responses to experiencing health-related social control. Experiencing more negative social control was associated with the tendency to engage in potentially health-compromising behaviors, whereas experiencing positive social control was associated with attempts to engage in the desired behavior. Most associations between experiencing social control and the target's behavioral responses could be accounted for, at least partially, by the target's affective responses to the social control attempts. These results suggest that current conceptualizations of the health-relevance of social control are in need of revision. Implications of these results for social control measurement and theory are discussed.
TL;DR: This paper examined the effects of optimism following traumatic stress and pathways through which optimism may act, finding that optimism affects stress and coping directly and indirectly by affecting how much social support is available.
Abstract: This study examined the effects of optimism following traumatic stress and pathways through which optimism may act. Rescue and recovery workers at the crash site of US Air Flight 427 (n= 159) were studied 2, 6, 9, and 12 months after the crash to examine optimistic outlook, social support, coping, and stress. As predicted, a more optimistic disposition was associated with less self-reported distress, less use of avoidant and wishful-thinking coping strategies, greater use of problem-focused and seeking-social-support coping, and greater availability of social support. Contrary to expectations, coping did not account for the relationships observed between optimism and stress responding. Social support explained some of the effects of optimism on coping and stress, but these mediational effects varied over time. Findings suggest that optimism affects stress and coping directly and indirectly by affecting how much social support is available.
TL;DR: In this paper, a field study was conducted on a sample of 232 employees working in various organizations and found that employees' perceptions of procedural justice and interactional justice positively predicted perceptions of systemic justice (i.e., that the organization was fair overall).
Abstract: The literature on organizational justice has identified 3 key components of this process: distributive, procedural, and interactional justice. On the basis of fairness heuristic theory, we reasoned that employees may use perceptions of these 3 components as a basis for drawing inferences about the fairness of the organization as a whole (i.e., their perceptions of systemic justice). A field study was conducted on a sample of 232 employees working in various organizations. Results show that employees' perceptions of procedural justice and interactional justice in their organizations positively predicted perceptions of systemic justice (i.e., that the organization was fair overall). Perceptions of distributive justice, however, did not predict perceptions of systemic justice. Practical implications of these findings are discussed.
TL;DR: In this paper, the role of skin color (i.e., lightnessdarkness) as it pertains to racial identity development theory and self-esteem among 113 African American college students of various skin colors was examined.
Abstract: The purpose of the present study was to examine the role of skin color (i.e., lightnessdarkness), as it pertains to racial identity development theory and self-esteem among 113 African American college students of various skin colors. Findings revealed that the sample preferred skin color of a medium tone, rather than exhibiting self-preference for either lighter or darker skin tones. There was also a significant relationship between one’s perceptions of and preferences for his or her skin color and the skin tones idealized by others (e.g., opposite gender, family). Lighter skin color was positively related to higher levels of racial identity attitudes (immersion/emersion); the more satisfied darker skinned individuals were with their skin color, the lower their self-esteem, and gender differences existed in perceptions of others’ preferences for skin color. Implications of this study for providing therapeutic clinical services and fostering the healthy psychological development of African American men, women, and children are discussed.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the relationship between violent video games and children's mood and found that arousal, as measured by heart rate and self-reported arousal, increased significantly after playing the violent video game, as compared with the other two game conditions, with girls reporting more arousal than did boys.
Abstract: This study investigated the relationship between violent video games and children's mood. A total of 71 children aged 8 to 12 years played a paper-and-pencil game, a nonviolent video game, and a violent video game. Results indicate that arousal, as measured by heart rate and self-reported arousal, increased significantly after playing the violent video game, as compared with the other two game conditions, with girls reporting more arousal than did boys. There was no significant increase in aggressive mood scores for either boys or girls after playing the violent game. Positive mood, as measured by positive affect, showed no significant increases or decreases after playing either video game. However, positive mood, as measured by general mood, showed a significant increase after playing the violent game for both boys and girls, but only as compared with the paper-and-pencil game. Results are interpreted in terms of social learning and cognitive information processing theories of aggression.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined three different types of self-efficacy: task, coping, and scheduling and their respective usefulness in distinguishing among persons reporting different levels of exercise involvement, and found that coping and scheduling efficacy were the best disciminators of level of exercise behavior.
Abstract: Self-efficacy has been shown to be a robust predictor of exercise and other health-related behaviors (e.g., Bandura, 1986, 1995, 1997; Godin, Desharnais, Valois, & Bradet, 1995; Maddux, 1995; McAuley, Wraith, & Duncan, 1991). Maddux has proposed that there are different types of self-efficacy and that these types may fulfill different roles in the motivation of behavior, perhaps based on characteristics of the target behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine 3 different types of self-efficacy: task, coping, and scheduling and their respective usefulness in distinguishing among persons reporting different levels of exercise involvement. A cross-sectional telephone survey using exercise behavior as the selection criterion was completed with 203 adults. Results showed that coping and scheduling efficacy were the best disciminators of level of exercise behavior. Task efficacy did not clearly distinguish between exercise groups. The theoretical and applied implications are discussed, particularly noting specific targets for future intervention.
TL;DR: In this article, a non-recursive model with relationships between perceived lack of social support, perceived self-efficacy in eliciting support at the workplace, and the three successive burnout dimensions-emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment was tested.
Abstract: A nonrecursive model with relationships between perceived lack of social support, perceived self-efficacy in eliciting support at the workplace. and the 3 successive burnout dimensions-emotional exhaustion. depersonalization, and personal accomplishmentwas tested ;, a sample of 277 secondary-school teachers in The Netherlands. Results showed that teachers’ perceived lack of support from colleagues and principals had a significant effect on their self-efficacy beliefs in eliciting support from them, while these self-efficacy beliefs were shown to predict their level of burnout. The hypothesized feedback loop was also confirmed: Teachers’ level of burnout predicted the extent to which they feel lack of support. An additional effect of the personal-accomplishment dimension of burnout on perceived self-efficacy was suggested. It was concluded that perceived selfefficacy in eliciting support at the workplace is a usable construct in the prediction of teacher burnout. Future directions in research are suggested. Burnout is described as
TL;DR: In this article, a prospective study examined the ability of variables specified by the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to predict ecstasyuse intentions and behavior, and found that theory of reasoned action and TPB variables provided good prediction of intentions to use the substance.
Abstract: Despite increasing use of the illicit substance known as ecstasy, there is a paucity of research concerning psychosocial correlates of its use. A prospective study examined the ability of variables specified by the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to predict ecstasyuse intentions and behavior. Regression analyses showed that theory of reasoned action and TPB variables provided good prediction of intentions to use the substance. Moreover, support was obtained for a distinction between perceptions of behavioral control over taking ecstasy vs. control over obtaining the substance in the prediction of intentions. Habit contributed additional variance to the prediction of intentions, and reduced the effects of perceived behavioral control over taking ecstasy to nonsignificance. Ecstasy use over 2 months was directly predicted from intentions to use the substance.
TL;DR: In this article, negative evaluations of people who do not use condoms predict willingness to have sex without condoms, while positive evaluations of those who do use condoms showed no unique predictions, while a message that emphasized the positive social consequences of using condoms had no such effects on willingness.
Abstract: Based on the negativity bias in person perception, we argue that behavioral decisions related to condom use are influenced by the social images that an individual has of people who do not use condoms, but that they are not influenced by the social images that an individual has of people who do use condoms. Three studies with college student samples indicated that the negative evaluations of people who do not use condoms predicts willingness to have sex without condoms. In contrast, positive evaluations of people who do use condoms showed no unique predictions. A fourth study demonstrated that a health message emphasizing the negative social consequences of having sex without condoms decreased willingness to have unsafe sex in comparison to a control, whereas a message that emphasized the positive social consequences of using condoms had no such effects on willingness.
TL;DR: The authors compared four models of resiliency (compensatory, risk-protective, protective, and challenge) in the context of adolescent aggression and found that the most appropriate model of resilience varies by gender of the adolescent.
Abstract: Resiliency is the ability to survive and thrive despite exposure to negative circumstances. This study compared 4 models of resiliency (compensatory, risk-protective, protective-protective, and challenge) in the context of adolescent aggression. Each model proposes a different relationship between risk and protective factors. The risk factor was exposure to violence. Protective factors were closeness to an adult, importance of religion, selfesteem, relationship competence, constructive communication, and constructive anger. Data for testing the models came from a survey of 1,747 8th and 9th graders in a rural county. Results suggest that the most appropriate model of resiliency varies by gender of the adolescent. The protective-protective and challenge models were supported for females. None of the models were supported for males. Gender differences in socialization and development may explain study findings.
TL;DR: This paper found that authentic dissent was superior in stimulating a greater proportion of original thoughts, considering the opposite position, and direct attitude change, while devil's advocate was found to stimulate cognitive boistcring of the initial position.
Abstract: Antidotes to problems associated with uniformity of viewpoints have generally involved dissent in one form or another (Katzenstein, 1996), one being “devil's advocate.” Research on authentic dissent has documented additional advantages in that it stimulates divergent and original thought (Nemeth, 1995). In this study, authentic disscnt was compared with devil's advocate and with no dissent. Findings indicate that authentic dissent was superior in (a) stimulating a greater proportion of original thoughts, (b) considering the opposite position, and (c) direct attitude change. Devil's advocate was found to stimulate cognitive boistcring of the initial position, thus raising concerns about the unintended consequences of techniques such as devil's advocate and the subtle task facing attempts to foster original thought and yet maintain cohesion.
TL;DR: In this article, a survey of 787 college undergraduates was used to examine motivational, affective, and cognitive factors that may influence Internet use and contribute to the racial digital divide.
Abstract: The indisputable existence of a racial digital divide calls into question the democratizing potential of the Internet. Beyond issues of access to the technology are psychological factors that may influence Internet use. A survey of 787 college undergraduates—630 European Americans and 157 African Americans—who have similar access to the Internet was used to examine motivational, affective, and cognitive factors that may influence Internet use and contribute to the racial digital divide. Racial differences in Internet use were obtained, but were limited to e-mail use. A model of Internet use is offered that considers motivational, affective, and cognitive antecedents and consequences of use.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the relationship of workaholism-related measures to work satisfaction and career-progress outcomes and developed a comprehensive research framework based on previous speculation and research findings to guide selection of variables and data analysis.
Abstract: This investigation examined the relationship of workaholism-related measures to work satisfaction and career-progress outcomes. A comprehensive research framework was developed based on previous speculation and research findings to guide selection of variables and data analysis. Five blocks of predictor variables were included: individual demographics, work-situation characteristics, two antecedents of workaholism (one an individual-level measure of beliefs and fears; the other an organizational-level measure of perceived support of work-personal-life imbalance), three workaholism components identified by Spence and Robbins (1992), and workaholic job behaviors (eg, hours worked, perfectionism). Work outcomes included job and career satisfaction, future career prospects, and salary increases. Hierarchical regression analysis generally indicated relationships between workaholism-related measures and work outcomes.
TL;DR: The relationship between possible selves and boredom in juvenile delinquency was examined in 418 high school students as mentioned in this paper, who reported more negative possible selves, a higher tendency to experience boredom, and fewer positive possible selves than did adolescents who engaged in lower levels of delinquent behaviors.
Abstract: The relationship between possible selves and boredom in juvenile delinquency was examined in 418 high school students. The construct Possible Selves refers to the representation of the self that each person would like to become, could become, and is afraid of becoming. Participants who acknowledged high levels of delinquent behaviors reported more negative possible selves, a higher tendency to experience boredom, and fewer positive possible selves than did adolescents who engaged in lower levels of delinquent behaviors. Also, the number of negative possible selves, the number of positive possible selves, boredom proneness, and gender accounted for 32% of the variance in juvenile delinquency. Overall, the results provide evidence that boredom and a negative view of one's future play a significant role in adolescent delinquent behavior.
TL;DR: This article examined the moderating influences of perceived control (i.e., personal control and job self-efficacy) on relationships between perceptions of organizational politics and organizational commitment, job satisfaction, intention to turnover, and job stress.
Abstract: This investigation examined the moderating influences of perceived control (i. e., personal control and job self-efficacy) on relationships between perceptions of organizational politics and organizational commitment, job satisfaction, intention to turnover, and job stress. Although results failed to support predictions concerning the interaction of perceptions of organizational politics and personal control, some support was found for predictions concerning the interactive influence of perceptions of organizational politics and job self-efficacy on outcomes. Data from 189 hotel managers supported the hypothesized interactive effects of perceptions of organizational politics and job self-efficacy for the outcomes of organizational commitment and job satisfaction. These results suggest that job self-efficacy exacerbates the relationship between perceived politics and certain dysfunctional attitudes.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined discrepancies in the evaluation of men and women regarding the performance of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and found that women were perceived to engage in OCB more frequently than men in gender-neutral and male-typed jobs.
Abstract: Two studies were conducted to examine discrepancies in the evaluation of men and women regarding the performance of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). In Study 1, base-rate differences in the perceived frequency and value of citizenship behaviors performed by males and females were investigated. A gender by job type interaction was found indicating that women were perceived to engage in OCB more frequently than were men in gender-neutral and male-typed jobs. No gender differences were found regarding the value associated with citizenship behaviors. In Study 2, undergraduates rated videotaped male and female instructors who exhibited different levels of OCB. Results revealed a gender by OCB interaction such that more accurate behavioral observations were made when observing males exhibiting OCB and females exhibiting no OCB than when observing males who did not exhibit OCB and females who did exhibit OCB. No gender by OCB interactions were found with regard to ratings of overall performance evaluation or reward recommendations.
TL;DR: This paper examined the actor-observer bias in attributions for poverty in the developing world from the perspectives of "actors" living in a "developing country" (Malawi) and "observants" living on the other hand in Australia, finding that Australians were more likely than were Malawians to attribute poverty to dispositional characteristics of the poor, rather than to situational factors.
Abstract: Causal attributions for poverty in the developing world were examined from the perspectives of “actors” living in a “developing country” (Malawi) and “observers” living in a “developed country” (Australia). Ninety-eight Malawian and 100 Australian weekend shoppers responded to the Causes of Third World Poverty Questionnaire (CTWPQ) and the Just World Scale (JWS), with Australian participants also providing information about their frequency of donating to foreign-aid charities. Consistent with the actor–observer bias, Australians were more likely than were Malawians to attribute poverty to dispositional characteristics of the poor, rather than to situational factors. Among the Australians, situational attributions were in turn associated with frequency of donation behavior. The finding of a donor bias in this sample has important implications for the social marketing of foreign aid to Western donor publics.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the impact of fear on attitudes and the mediating role of information processing and concluded that fear may influence attitudes both in a direct and an indirect way, mediated by information processing.
Abstract: The present experiment examined the impact of fear on attitudes and the mediating role of information processing. Fear and argument strength were manipulated according to a 3 × 2 (Fear: Control vs. Moderate Fear vs. High Fear × Arguments: Weak vs. Strong) between-subjects design. Fear was aroused with regard to the risks associated with global warming, and the information to be processed was a persuasive message about energy-conserving light bulbs. The results indicate that both moderate and high levels of fear had an impact on attitudes. Moderate fear resulted in more positive attitudes toward energy-saving bulbs, but only when strong arguments in favor of these bulbs were provided. High fear had a positive effect on attitudes, regardless of argument strength. It is concluded that fear may influence attitudes both in a direct and an indirect way, mediated by information processing. Whether the direct or the indirect effect dominates appears to depend on fear intensity.
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of gain-loss message framing on breast cancerrelated cognitions and behaviors were assessed among 539 women aged 30 to 70 years, and the results indicated that a loss-framed message led to greater positive change in BSE behavior.
Abstract: The effects of gain-loss message framing on breast-cancer-related cognitions and behaviors were assessed among 539 women aged 30 to 70 years. The design involved a prebrochure telephone interview, followed by a brochure mailout, and a postbrochure telephone interview. The brochures contained information about breast cancer and the risk of family history. Recommended behaviors were framed to emphasize gains, losses, or were neutral; and statistical risk information was presented either positively or negatively. Measures included demographics, family history, breast self-examination (BSE) performance, BSE intention, self-efficacy in performing BSE, perceived early detection risk of breast cancer, perceived susceptibility to breast cancer, and anxiety about breast cancer. A loss-framed message led to greater positive change in BSE behavior. Interactions between framing effects and variables of issue involvement, perceived early detection risk, and self-efficacy indicated effects on behavior, but not beliefs.