Perceptions and reactions to men and women self-disclosing loneliness

The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions and reactions to videotaped portrayals of male and female characters shown self-disclosing or not self-disclosing feelings of loneliness. Forty male and forty female volunteer college students participated in the study. Ratings of the characters w...

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Main Author: Softas, Basilia C.
Other Authors: Mitchell, Peter M.
Format: Others
Published: 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/handle/180949
http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/225242
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spelling ndltd-BSU-oai-cardinalscholar.bsu.edu-handle-1809492014-07-12T03:32:59ZPerceptions and reactions to men and women self-disclosing lonelinessSoftas, Basilia C.Loneliness.Self-disclosure.The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions and reactions to videotaped portrayals of male and female characters shown self-disclosing or not self-disclosing feelings of loneliness. Forty male and forty female volunteer college students participated in the study. Ratings of the characters were obtained for: 1) psychological adjustment, 2) likability, 3) causal attributions, and 4) personal acceptance (as acquaintance, coworker and close friend). The data were analyzed using multivariate and univariate analyses of variance.Findings1. Manipulation checks provided evidence for the effectiveness of the high-low self-disclosure manipulation.2. The analyses showed that there were no significant differences due to sex of participant or character, nor due to level of loneliness disclosure as measured by the above mentioned four scales.3. Supplementary analyses considering the three acceptance scales separately revealed that participants indicated significantly less difficulty in accepting as a close friend the highly self-disclosing male, as compared to: a) the low self-disclosing male, and b) the highly self disclosing female.Conclusions1. The findings suggest there may be fewer negative consequences for self-disclosure of loneliness by males than implied by prior research in the general area of self-disclosure.2. All other things being equal, that is, adjustment, likability, attributions and overall acceptance, females highly disclosing loneliness may be less accepted as close friends than males exhibiting the same behavior. Research is needed to clarify whether high disclosure of loneliness runs contrary to sex-role expectations for females.In light of the above findings, recommendations for further research were made. Measuring participants' attributions on the motivation of characters self-disclosing loneliness was highly recommended.Mitchell, Peter M.2011-06-03T19:31:19Z2011-06-03T19:31:19Z198419843, x, 143 leaves ; 28 cm.LD2489.Z68 1984 .S66http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/handle/180949http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/225242Virtual Press
collection NDLTD
format Others
sources NDLTD
topic Loneliness.
Self-disclosure.
spellingShingle Loneliness.
Self-disclosure.
Softas, Basilia C.
Perceptions and reactions to men and women self-disclosing loneliness
description The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions and reactions to videotaped portrayals of male and female characters shown self-disclosing or not self-disclosing feelings of loneliness. Forty male and forty female volunteer college students participated in the study. Ratings of the characters were obtained for: 1) psychological adjustment, 2) likability, 3) causal attributions, and 4) personal acceptance (as acquaintance, coworker and close friend). The data were analyzed using multivariate and univariate analyses of variance.Findings1. Manipulation checks provided evidence for the effectiveness of the high-low self-disclosure manipulation.2. The analyses showed that there were no significant differences due to sex of participant or character, nor due to level of loneliness disclosure as measured by the above mentioned four scales.3. Supplementary analyses considering the three acceptance scales separately revealed that participants indicated significantly less difficulty in accepting as a close friend the highly self-disclosing male, as compared to: a) the low self-disclosing male, and b) the highly self disclosing female.Conclusions1. The findings suggest there may be fewer negative consequences for self-disclosure of loneliness by males than implied by prior research in the general area of self-disclosure.2. All other things being equal, that is, adjustment, likability, attributions and overall acceptance, females highly disclosing loneliness may be less accepted as close friends than males exhibiting the same behavior. Research is needed to clarify whether high disclosure of loneliness runs contrary to sex-role expectations for females.In light of the above findings, recommendations for further research were made. Measuring participants' attributions on the motivation of characters self-disclosing loneliness was highly recommended.
author2 Mitchell, Peter M.
author_facet Mitchell, Peter M.
Softas, Basilia C.
author Softas, Basilia C.
author_sort Softas, Basilia C.
title Perceptions and reactions to men and women self-disclosing loneliness
title_short Perceptions and reactions to men and women self-disclosing loneliness
title_full Perceptions and reactions to men and women self-disclosing loneliness
title_fullStr Perceptions and reactions to men and women self-disclosing loneliness
title_full_unstemmed Perceptions and reactions to men and women self-disclosing loneliness
title_sort perceptions and reactions to men and women self-disclosing loneliness
publishDate 2011
url http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/handle/180949
http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/225242
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