Showing papers in "Social and Personality Psychology Compass in 2021"

Social norms, social identities and the COVID‐19 pandemic: Theory and recommendations

Abstract: Sustained mass behaviour change is needed to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, but many of the required changes run contrary to existing social norms (e.g., physical closeness with in-group members). This paper explains how social norms and social identities are critical to explaining and changing public behaviour. Recommendations are presented for how to harness these social processes to maximise adherence to COVID-19 public health guidance. Specifically, we recommend that public health messages clearly define who the target group is, are framed as identity-affirming rather than identity-contradictory, include complementary injunctive and descriptive social norm information, are delivered by in-group members and that support is provided to enable the public to perform the requested behaviours.

Inoculation theory in the post‐truth era: Extant findings and new frontiers for contested science, misinformation, and conspiracy theories

Abstract: Although there has been unprecedented attention to inoculation theory in recent years, the potential of this research has yet to be reached Inoculation theory explains how immunity to counter‐attitudinal messages is conferred by preemptively exposing people to weakened doses of challenging information The theory has been applied in a number of contexts (e g , politics, health) in its 50+ year history Importantly, one of the newest contexts for inoculation theory is work in the area of contested science, misinformation, and conspiracy theories Recent research has revealed that when a desirable position on a scientific issue (e g , climate change) exists, conventional preemptive (prophylactic) inoculation can help to protect it from misinformation, and that even when people have undesirable positions, “therapeutic” inoculation messages can have positive effects We call for further research to explain and predict the efficacy of inoculation theory in this new context to help inform better public understandings of issues such as climate change, genetically modified organisms, vaccine hesitancy, and other contested science beliefs such as conspiracy theories about COVID‐19 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Social & Personality Psychology Compass is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use This abstract may be abridged No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract (Copyright applies to all Abstracts )

Taking charge and stepping in: Individuals who punish are rewarded with prestige and dominance

Abstract: Funding information Open access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL. Abstract A hallmark of human societies is the scale at which we cooperate with many others, even when they are not closely genetically related to us. One proposed mechanism that helps explain why we cooperate is punishment; cooperation may pay and proliferate if those who free ride on the cooperation of others are punished. Yet this ‘solution’ raises another puzzle of its own: Who will bear the costs of punishing? While the deterrence of free‐riders via punishment serves collective interests, presumably any single individual—who has no direct incentive to punish—is better off letting others pay the costs of punishment. However, emerging theory and evidence indicate that, while punishment may at times be a costly act, certain individuals are better able to ‘afford’ to pay the price of punishment and are often consequentially rewarded with fitness‐enhancing reputation benefits. Synthesizing across these latest lines of research, we propose a novel framework that considers how high status individuals—that is, individuals with greater prestige or dominance—enjoy lower punishment costs. These individuals are thus more willing to punish, and through their punitive action can in turn reap reputational rewards by further gaining more prestige or dominance. These reputational gains, which

Conspiracy beliefs and the individual, relational, and collective selves

Abstract: Recent empirical and theoretical developments suggest that endorsement of conspiracy theories can arise from the frustration of social motives. Taking this further, the current review integrates theorising on processes relating to three selves—the individual,relational, and collective self and outlines their associations with conspiracy beliefs. In doing so, we argue that motives pertaining to the individual self (e.g., narcissism, need for uniqueness) are linked to belief in conspiracy theories to deflect blame from personal shortcomings and protect the self-image. Motives responding to threats to the relational self (e.g., social exclusion) increase endorsement of conspiracy theories to regain a sense of social support through exchanging shared concerns. Finally, collective self motives (e.g., collective narcissism, perceived ingroup victimhood) foster conspiracy beliefs to defend the group image by blaming outgroups for ingroup misfortunes and placing one’s group in a morally superior victim role. Taken together, endorsement of conspiracy theories appears to be borne out of attempts to manage these three selves. Potential consequences for each of the selves,future directions, and theoretical implications are discussed.

Supervised machine learning methods in psychology : A practical introduction with annotated R code

Abstract: Machine learning methods for prediction and pattern detection are increasingly prevalent in psychological research. We provide an introductory overview of machine learning, its applications, and describe how to implement models for research. We review fundamental concepts of machine learning, such as prediction accuracy and out-of-sample evaluation, and summarize standard prediction algorithms including linear regressions, ridge regressions, decision trees, and random forests (plus additional algorithms in the supplementary materials). We demonstrate each method with examples and annotated R code, and discuss best practices for determining sample sizes; comparing model performances; tuning prediction models; preregistering prediction models; and reporting results. Finally, we discuss the value of machine learning methods in maintaining psychology’s status as a predictive science.

Reducing prejudice in the society at large: A review of the secondary transfer effect and directions for future research

Abstract: The secondary transfer effect (STE) constitutes the generalization of the effects of intergroup contact from the outgroup one has contact with to uninvolved outgroups In this article, we provide a review of the research on the STE After presenting evidence on the robustness of the phenomenon, we discuss relevant mediating processes and outline a model that distinguishes them in three categories: mediators referring to the outgroup, mediators referring to the ingroup, and mediators referring to the self We then present moderators of the STE, and recent evidence of the STE from indirect contact (extended, vicarious, and imagined contact) and from negative contact By relying on our distinction in three sets of mediators, we suggest directions for future research, largely pointing to the importance of integrating the STE with research on generalized prejudice and of exploring contact as an agent of cognitive liberalization

Regulating road rage

Abstract: Road rage has been a problem since the advent of cars. Given the ubiquity of road rage, and its potentially devastating consequences, understanding road rage and developing interventions to curb it are important priorities. Emerging theoretical and empirical advances in the study of emotion and emotion regulation have provided new insights into why people develop road rage and how it can be prevented and treated. In the current article, we suggest an integrative conceptual framework for understanding road rage, based upon a psychological analysis of emotion and emotion regulation. We begin by defining road rage and other key constructs. We then consider the interplay between road rage generation and road rage regulation. Using an emotion regulation framework, we describe key points at which emotion-regulation difficulties can lead to road rage, followed by strategies that may alleviate these difficulties. We suggest that this framework usefully organizes existing research on road rage, while exposing key directions for future research.

Using psychological science to support social distancing: Tradeoffs between affiliation and disease‐avoidance motivations

Abstract: Humans are an intensely social species with a pervasive need for affiliation and social interaction However, satisfying this fundamental motive comes with risk, including increased exposure to others' communicable pathogens Consequently, disease mitigation strategies may require humans to downregulate their interest in socialization when pathogenic threat is elevated Subsequent unsatisfactorily met affiliation needs can result in downregulation of disease avoidance goals in the service of social inclusion, albeit at the cost of putting individuals at greater risk for pathogen exposure The current review summarizes past work in social and evolutionary psychology demonstrating affiliation and disease‐avoidance motivation tradeoffs We then apply this research by articulating strategies to support and maintain social distancing behaviors in the face of loneliness, which is of particular importance during pandemic outbreaks such as COVID‐19 Finally, we propose novel and integrative research questions related to affiliation/pathogen‐avoidance tradeoffs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Social & Personality Psychology Compass is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use This abstract may be abridged No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract (Copyright applies to all Abstracts )

Optimism: Enduring resource or miscalibrated perception?

Abstract: Correspondence Mariah F. Purol, Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, 316 Physics Rd, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. Email: purolmar@msu.edu Abstract There is a general, widely‐held belief that optimism is always a good thing. While there is much previous research suggesting that optimists enjoy several health and wellness benefits, there is also a large body of research suggesting that optimism is not always advantageous. Perhaps examining how optimism develops and changes across the lifespan may give us insight into how people use optimism and allow us to determine if and when optimism is helpful or maladaptive for them. In the current review, we review evidence debating the benefits and costs of optimism, as well as examine how optimism develops across the lifespan. We discuss how life events may or may not impact the developmental trajectory of optimism. Lastly, we address currently unanswered questions and emphasize the contextual nature of optimism's advantages.

Psychological distance and the pandemic: Insights from Construal Level Theory and relationship science

Abstract: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has brought about unprecedented challenges to public health Compounding these hardships is the fact that typical social functions such as maintaining valued relationships cannot proceed as usual Social cognitive perspectives like that presented by Construal Level Theory (CLT) can provide a valuable framework for understanding our unique interpersonal experiences during this difficult time, and potentially offer avenues for adaptation and healthier coping I begin by introducing CLT and follow with a discussion of its implications for understanding the psychological effects of social distancing on our interpersonal relationships and pursuit of social goals I describe how abstract and concrete construals can affect our experiences of maintaining close relationships that vary widely in terms of geographic distance or separation CLT can offer insight not only into how geographic distance or closeness may shape our thoughts and feelings about our close others, but also how we approach pursuing goals that are directly or indirectly shaped by these close others The more effectively we can frame and communicate about experiences during this challenging time in history, the better equipped we may be to support our public health apparatus and satisfy our psychological needs

Resisting, recognizing, and returning: A three-component model and review of persistence in episodic goals

Abstract: According to prior work, persistent goal pursuit is a continuous process where persisting is a matter of resisting the urge to give up. In everyday goals, however, persistence is often episodic, and its causes are more complex. People pause and resume pursuit many times. Whether people persist reflects more than will power and motivation, it also reflects the other goals they pursue, their resources, and the attentional demands of daily life. People can fail to persist not just because they gave up, but also because they failed to act. We propose a general model of persistence that accommodates the complexity of episodic goals. We argue that persistent goal pursuit is a function of three processes: resisting the urge to give up, recognizing opportunities for pursuit, and returning to pursuit. The broad factors that help and hurt persistence can be organized within these components. These components can also explain the mechanisms of four effective strategies for persistence: removing distractions, using reminders, using implementation intentions, and forming habits. The recognizing-resisting-returning model integrates and improves on extant theories of persistence and goal pursuit and is consistent with empirical work from laboratory and naturalistic settings.

What fuels passion? An integrative review of competing theories of romantic passion

Abstract: In an integrative review, we examine four theories and models of romantic passion to determine what causes feelings of romantic passion. Although a growing consensus has emerged for the definition of romantic passion, we suggest that this is largely not the case for the source of romantic passion. We outline how four different perspectives—Limerence Theory, the Rate of Change in Intimacy Model, the Self-Expansion Model, and the Triangular Theory of Love—propose four different potential sources of romantic passion and review empirical support in favor and against each. For each of these perspectives, we additionally outline the predicted trajectory of passion that follows from each theorized source of passion, as well as each perspective's view on the ability for passion to be controlled and up-regulated. In identifying ways in which these theories and models offer conflicting predictions about the source of romantic passion, this review points to ways in which a more comprehensive model may be developed that integrates across these four perspectives.