PSI CHI Journal of Psychological Research
Volume 17.2 | Summer 2012
DOWNLOAD THIS ISSUE | All articles are now free.
Are You the Problem, or the Solution? Changing Male Attitudes
and Behaviors Regarding Sexual Assault
Alexandra Cassel, Colgate University
ABSTRACT: Sexual assault
(SA) prevention efforts on college campuses usually target women (the victims);
yet men are far more likely to be the perpetrators of sexual violence. The
present study evaluated how male attitudes, measured by rape myth acceptance,
and behaviors, measured by willingness to seek information, could be changed
pro-socially. A false feedback paradigm was used to manipulate male personal
responsibility by presenting men with sham rape myth acceptance scores. Results
indicate that men who received the "high score” (signifying high rape myth
acceptance) had greater personal responsibility for the issue, and thus
increased concern, as determined by lower rape myth acceptance at post-test
and willingness to seek out further information on SA minimization. In order to
incite change, men need to feel personally responsible for the issue of SA.
VIEW THIS ARTICLE | RELATED ARTICLE | REQUEST PERMISSION
https://doi.org/10.24839/2164-8204.JN17.2.50
Relationship Between Perfectionism and Academic Cheating
Christina R. Krone and Steve V. Rouse,
Pepperdine University;
Lisa M. Bauer,
Pepperdine Univ and Univ of Missouri–Columbia
ABSTRACT: The present
study examines the relationship between three types of perfectionism (self-oriented,
socially prescribed, other-oriented) and the frequency and recency of
engagement in academic dishonesty. Eighty-three Pepperdine University
undergraduates completed three questionnaires used to gather demographic
information and to measure levels of perfectionism, and the frequency and
recency of academic cheating. Ninety-eight percent of the sample reported
engaging in at least one academic cheating behavior at some point during their
life. Self-oriented perfectionism scores of individuals who reported
engagement in both "submitting someone else’s paper as my own” and
"dishonest reporting of attendance for an internship, service learning,
or similar requirement for a course” were significantly lower than those who did
not report engaging in these behaviors. Socially prescribed perfectionism
scores positively correlated with frequencies of dishonest attendance
reporting. The results can be used to better understand the role of personality
traits in academic dishonesty.
VIEW THIS ARTICLE | RELATED ARTICLE | REQUEST PERMISSION
https://doi.org/10.24839/2164-8204.JN17.2.59
The Inversion Effect: Biological Motion and Gender Recognition
Benjamin McGlothlin, Dawn Jiacoletti,
and Lonnie Yandell,
Belmont University
ABSTRACT: Experimenters
have demonstrated human’s ability to perceive biological motion using point-light
animations. Observers have also recognized gender based on these displays.
Furthermore, inversion effect or preference for upright stimuli for biological
motion has been documented in the literature. While the inversion effect has
been documented in various experimental tasks, this effect needs to be examined
on the basis of recognition of gender. The primary aim of this experiment was
to examine the inversion effect using a novel task to replicate or refute, as
well as to examine how inversion impairs gender classification. Twenty-seven
participants completed gender recognition trials on both inverted and upright point-light
displays, and experimenters measured accuracy of gender recognition. Observers
were less accurate at recognizing gender in inverted point-light displays of
human biological motion, and the inversion effect impacted identification of
male stimuli more than female stimuli. While further research needs to be
conducted, it should be noted that some participants reported making gender
decisions based on specific areas of the human anatomy, which could be relevant
for future studies.
VIEW THIS ARTICLE | RELATED ARTICLE | REQUEST PERMISSION
https://doi.org/10.24839/2164-8204.JN17.2.68
Perceived Vulnerability to HIV Infection, Anti-Gay Prejudice,
and College Student Sexual Behavior
Laura C. Spiller, Beverly Stiles, David Carlston,
and Laura A.
Hise, Midwestern State University
ABSTRACT: Despite demonstrating
adequate knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS, college students continue to
report low levels of safe sex behaviors. Effective risk reduction strategies
rely on identifying and addressing cognitive barriers such as prejudice that
HIV/AIDS is a disease affecting only certain populations such as gay males and
intravenous drug users. These beliefs can interfere with the success of
effective HIV/AIDS prevention programs by making it difficult, embarrassing, or
threatening to engage in preventive behaviors. This study tested the hypothesis
that prejudice toward gay men would predict perceived personal vulnerability to
HIV infection and engagement in protective sexual behaviors, specifically
talking with one’s partners about the chance of HIV transmission and being
tested for HIV infection. Students with higher levels of anti-gay prejudice
reported less perceived vulnerability of HIV infection, after controlling for
higher risk sexual behaviors, R2 = .19, F(1,148) =
8.30, p = .004. Greater prejudice was also related to less likelihood of
having been tested in the past year. We discuss implications for augmenting
prevention programs by targeting misconceptions stemming from anti-gay
prejudice.
VIEW THIS ARTICLE | RELATED ARTICLE | REQUEST PERMISSION
https://doi.org/10.24839/2164-8204.JN17.2.73
Examining Relationships: Communication and Satisfaction
in
Lesbian and Heterosexual Women
Elizabeth Brashier and Jennifer Hughes, Agnes Scott College
ABSTRACT:
In light of the current literature concerning communication and
satisfaction in relationships, we examined whether there are differences in
communication and its impact on the relationship and sexual satisfaction of
lesbian and heterosexual women. A sample of 209 heterosexual and 94 lesbian
women completed an online survey about relationship satisfaction, sexual
satisfaction, and communication variables. Greater physical touch indicated
greater relationship satisfaction for lesbian compared to heterosexual women.
There was not a significant interaction between sexual orientation and physical
touch in relation to sexual satisfaction. Greater words of affirmation indicated
greater sexual satisfaction for heterosexual women compared to lesbian women.
There was no significant interaction between sexual orientation and words of
affirmation in relation to relationship satisfaction. There was no significant
difference between lesbian and heterosexual women on relationship satisfaction,
nor was there a significant difference between lesbian and heterosexual women on
sexual satisfaction. A central implication from these findings is that working
to improve verbal communication in heterosexual couples and physical touch in
lesbian couples might lead to improved sexual satisfaction. These findings are
important to consider from the perspective of both couples and sex therapy work.
VIEW THIS ARTICLE | RELATED ARTICLE | REQUEST PERMISSION
https://doi.org/10.24839/2164-8204.JN17.2.80
Print Page
