2016 Publications
I’m Secure, But You’re Not: Implications of Attachment Matches for Conflict Resolution and Relationship Satisfaction
Tricia Myers^1, Alicia Limke-McLean^2, and Paul C. Jones^1
1^Southern Nazarene University
2^University of Central Oklahoma
Recent research on communication in close relationships has focused on how relational uncertainty—or the inability to predict and explain behavior in relationships—is associated with poor relationship outcomes. Although the idea of relational uncertainty provides a useful framework from which the link between romantic attachment, conflict resolution, and relationship satisfaction may be understood, research to date has largely ignored how specific matches (or mismatches) of attachment styles within couples contribute to these outcomes. To this end, the purpose of this project was to examine conflict resolution styles and relationship satisfaction among “attachment-matched” and “attachment-unmatched” couples. In two studies, couples completed measures of attachment, conflict resolution, and relationship satisfaction. In contrast to some previous research, results suggest that it is more beneficial to have a partner that is securely attached than to have two similarly-insecurely-attached partners.
Tricia Myers^1, Alicia Limke-McLean^2, and Paul C. Jones^1
1^Southern Nazarene University
2^University of Central Oklahoma
Recent research on communication in close relationships has focused on how relational uncertainty—or the inability to predict and explain behavior in relationships—is associated with poor relationship outcomes. Although the idea of relational uncertainty provides a useful framework from which the link between romantic attachment, conflict resolution, and relationship satisfaction may be understood, research to date has largely ignored how specific matches (or mismatches) of attachment styles within couples contribute to these outcomes. To this end, the purpose of this project was to examine conflict resolution styles and relationship satisfaction among “attachment-matched” and “attachment-unmatched” couples. In two studies, couples completed measures of attachment, conflict resolution, and relationship satisfaction. In contrast to some previous research, results suggest that it is more beneficial to have a partner that is securely attached than to have two similarly-insecurely-attached partners.
| I’m Secure, But You’re Not: Implications of Attachment Matches for Conflict Resolution and Relationship Satisfaction |
Psychological Type and Burnout in Social Service Managers: Jungian Theory Reconsidered
Catherine A. Hawkins
Texas State University
Raymond C. Hawkins II
Fielding Graduate University & University of Texas at Austin
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) was administered to a random sample of social service managers (n = 243), who were predominantly “thinking” in preference. Measures of burnout (the Tedium Scale, with a purer “physical/emotional exhaustion” subscale derived through factor analysis) and instrumental/expressive traits (EPAQ scales) were obtained concurrently. The “thinking” vs. “feeling” MBTI preference did not affect these relationships in the manner predicted by Jungian theory as expressed by Garden, who hypothesized that under conditions of exhaustion or burnout the opposite function would be expressed in its negative aspect (i.e., “feelers” would endorse more impersonal and hostile traits, whereas “thinkers” would endorse more nurturing traits). Our findings showed that increased exhaustion was associated with increased complaining and hostility, regardless of the preference for “thinking” or “feeling.” We propose an alternative model based on the mismatch between personality preferences and management environment.
Catherine A. Hawkins
Texas State University
Raymond C. Hawkins II
Fielding Graduate University & University of Texas at Austin
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) was administered to a random sample of social service managers (n = 243), who were predominantly “thinking” in preference. Measures of burnout (the Tedium Scale, with a purer “physical/emotional exhaustion” subscale derived through factor analysis) and instrumental/expressive traits (EPAQ scales) were obtained concurrently. The “thinking” vs. “feeling” MBTI preference did not affect these relationships in the manner predicted by Jungian theory as expressed by Garden, who hypothesized that under conditions of exhaustion or burnout the opposite function would be expressed in its negative aspect (i.e., “feelers” would endorse more impersonal and hostile traits, whereas “thinkers” would endorse more nurturing traits). Our findings showed that increased exhaustion was associated with increased complaining and hostility, regardless of the preference for “thinking” or “feeling.” We propose an alternative model based on the mismatch between personality preferences and management environment.
| Psychological Type and Burnout in Social Service Managers: Jungian Theory Reconsidered |
Testing the Effect of AMBER Alerts on Face Vigilance
Marjon J. C. Stephens, Robert D. Mather, and Adam M. Braly
University of Central Oklahoma
This experiment was conducted to test whether AMBER Alert messages encourage people to become more face-vigilant. Face-vigilance was measured through a recognition task that instructed participants to search for discrepant faces in friendly, threatening, and neutral crowds. Participants were primed with either an AMBER Alert message or a nonword message and then instructed to quickly and accurately conclude whether a discrepant face was present in a matrix of faces. Performance was measured as the response time for correct responses. Results confirmed that threatening faces in friendly crowds were more quickly and accurately detected than were friendly faces in threatening crowds. The results did not show a significant difference in response times for correct responses between the AMBER Alert group and the nonword group. Our findings did not support the hypothesis that AMBER Alerts encourage people to become more face-vigilant.
Marjon J. C. Stephens, Robert D. Mather, and Adam M. Braly
University of Central Oklahoma
This experiment was conducted to test whether AMBER Alert messages encourage people to become more face-vigilant. Face-vigilance was measured through a recognition task that instructed participants to search for discrepant faces in friendly, threatening, and neutral crowds. Participants were primed with either an AMBER Alert message or a nonword message and then instructed to quickly and accurately conclude whether a discrepant face was present in a matrix of faces. Performance was measured as the response time for correct responses. Results confirmed that threatening faces in friendly crowds were more quickly and accurately detected than were friendly faces in threatening crowds. The results did not show a significant difference in response times for correct responses between the AMBER Alert group and the nonword group. Our findings did not support the hypothesis that AMBER Alerts encourage people to become more face-vigilant.
| Testing the Effect of AMBER Alerts on Face Vigilance |
Identification with Math Boosts Women's Performance on Mathematical Tasks under Stereotype Threat
Benjamin A. Saunders
Long Island University - Brooklyn
Stereotype threat research (Steele & Aronson, 1995) suggests that people often underperform on tasks when they face the prospect of confirming a negative group stereotype. The adverse effect of stereotype threat on performance, moreover, should be stronger for people who identify with the domain in which the stereotype is relevant. The notion that domain identification—the degree to which one’s self-worth depends on achievements in a specific domain—further exacerbates performance under stereotype threat warrants further examination. This experiment tested whether identification with math burdened or boosted women’s performance on a math test under conditions of stereotype threat. The results revealed no relationship between identification with math and math performance when the test was not diagnostic of participants’ ability. However, identification with math positively predicted participants’ math performance when the test was diagnostic of ability. These results demonstrate that identification with math boosts (rather than burdens) women’s math performance under stereotype threat, and they call for further research on the relationship between domain identification and performance—in stereotype threat situations—across the different social identities, domains, and stereotypes that people share.
Benjamin A. Saunders
Long Island University - Brooklyn
Stereotype threat research (Steele & Aronson, 1995) suggests that people often underperform on tasks when they face the prospect of confirming a negative group stereotype. The adverse effect of stereotype threat on performance, moreover, should be stronger for people who identify with the domain in which the stereotype is relevant. The notion that domain identification—the degree to which one’s self-worth depends on achievements in a specific domain—further exacerbates performance under stereotype threat warrants further examination. This experiment tested whether identification with math burdened or boosted women’s performance on a math test under conditions of stereotype threat. The results revealed no relationship between identification with math and math performance when the test was not diagnostic of participants’ ability. However, identification with math positively predicted participants’ math performance when the test was diagnostic of ability. These results demonstrate that identification with math boosts (rather than burdens) women’s math performance under stereotype threat, and they call for further research on the relationship between domain identification and performance—in stereotype threat situations—across the different social identities, domains, and stereotypes that people share.
| Identification with Math Boosts Women's Performance on Mathematical Tasks under Stereotype Threat |
Comment
The Authoritarian Voter? The Psychology and Values of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders Support
Robert D. Mather
University of Central Oklahoma
Kurt W. Jefferson
Westminster College
In this article, authoritarian theory in psychology is used to describe authoritarian values of left and right voters that emerge from left and right populist voting behavior. Examples from European history and politics demonstrate how this can occur in the current U.S. political climate, with Donald Trump’s supporters reflecting far radical rightwing populist voters’ views in Europe rather than traditional Republican views and values in the US., and Bernie Sanders’ supporters more like democratic socialist voters in Europe rather than traditional mainstream Democrats in the U.S.
The Authoritarian Voter? The Psychology and Values of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders Support
Robert D. Mather
University of Central Oklahoma
Kurt W. Jefferson
Westminster College
In this article, authoritarian theory in psychology is used to describe authoritarian values of left and right voters that emerge from left and right populist voting behavior. Examples from European history and politics demonstrate how this can occur in the current U.S. political climate, with Donald Trump’s supporters reflecting far radical rightwing populist voters’ views in Europe rather than traditional Republican views and values in the US., and Bernie Sanders’ supporters more like democratic socialist voters in Europe rather than traditional mainstream Democrats in the U.S.
| The Authoritarian Voter? The Psychology and Values of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders Support |