Edward K. Sadalla

Dominance and heterosexual attraction

Four experiments examined the relation between behavioral expressions of dominance and the heterosexual attractiveness of males and females. Predictions concerning the relation between dominance and heterosexual attraction were derived from a consideration of sex role norms and from the comparative biological literature. All four experiments indicated an interaction between dominance and sex of target. Dominance behavior increased the attractiveness of males, but had no effect on the attractiveness of females. The third study indicated that the effect did not depend on the sex of the rater or on the sex of those with whom the dominant target interacted. The fourth study showed that the effect was specific to dominance as an independent variable and did not occur for related constructs (aggressive or domineering). This study also found that manipulated dominance enhanced only a males sexual attractiveness and not his general Usability. The results were discussed in terms of potential biological and cultural causal mechanisms. Concepts that refer to an individuals relative position in a social hierarchy occupy prominent positions in current models of personality and social behavior (Edelmarv & Omark, 1973; Hogan, 1979,1982;StrayerS his analysis of personality descriptions in different language groups indicates that dominance-submission is a universal lexical feature of human languages. The research reported here concerns the relation between behavioral expressions of dominance and the sexual attractiveness of males and females. Specific relations between dominance and attraction are predicted both by sociobiological theories that emphasize evolutionarily determined behavior tendencies and by scciocultural theories that emphasize socialization practices and sex role expectations.

Integrating evolutionary and social exchange perspectives on relationships : effects of gender, self-appraisal, and involvement level on mate selection criteria

Two studies examined which traits males and females desire in partners at various levels of relationship development in an attempt to integrate evolutionary models (which emphasize sex differences) and social exchange models (which emphasize self-appraisals). In Study 1, male and female students specified their minimum criteria on 24 traits for a date, sexual partner, exclusive dating partner, marriage partner, and 1-night sexual liaison. They also rated themselves on the same dimensions. Sex differences were greatest for casual sexual liaisons, with mens criteria being consistently lower than womens. Mens self-ratings were generally less correlated with their criteria for a 1-night stand, as well

Reference points in spatial cognition.

The present research investigates the hypothesis that cognitive representations of large scale space contain elements that may be termed reference points, and that these points are used to define the position of adjacent places. The nature and function of reference points is explored in five experiments. Experiments 1 and 2 consist of tasks during which subjects judged the distance between known locations. The subjective distance between reference points and nonreference points was found to be asymmetrical, with the latter ordered in relation to the former. Experiments 3 and 4 employ reaction time tasks in which subjects attempted to verify the distance or direction from an anchor location to target locations. The data indicate that the relative referentiality of anchor and target locations influences verification time. The results of Experiments 1-4 suggest that reference points occur in spatial cognition and that these points provide an organizational structure that facilitates the location of adjacent points in space. Experiment 5 consists of a multiple regression analysis designed to clarify the semantic attributes of spatial reference points.

Identity Symbolism in Housing

Upper-middle-class homeowners were asked to rate themselves on an extensive set of bipolar personality and identity dimensions. Photographs were taken of the interior and exterior of each homeowners dwelling and were developed into color slides. These slides were subsequently presented to subjects who were asked to rate the homeowner on the same set of personality and identity dimensions. Subjects were assigned to one of three conditions, interior, exterior, or combined, depending upon the type of information to which they were exposed. Subjects in all conditions were able to infer the homeowners selfconcept to a significant degree, with subjects in the interior condition displaying the most accuracy. Results were interpreted in terms of a self-presentational model of housing choice.

The Ecology of Technological Risk in a Sunbelt City

In this paper we examine the spatial distributions of four types of technological hazards in the Phoenix, Arizona, metropolitan area. The focus is on the locations of hazardous industrial and toxic waste sites in relation to the demographic composition of adjacent neighborhoods. Our interest is to determine whether hazardous sites, including industrial facilities in the EPAs Toxic Release Inventory, Large Quantity Generators of hazardous wastes, Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities, and federally identified contamination sites, are disproportionately located in areas with lower income and minority residents. We examine patterns of environmental inequity in Phoenix, a sprawling Sunbelt city with a growing post-Fordist industrial sector. First, using 1996 EPA data for four types of technological hazards, and 1995 Special Census data for Maricopa County, we employ a GIS to map the spatial distributions of hazardous sites and to analyze the demographic characteristics of census tracts with and without point-source hazards. A second methodology is used to produce a cumulative hazard density index for census tracts, based on the number of hazard zones—one-mile-radius circles around each facility—that overlay each tract. Both methodologies disclose clear patterns of social inequities in the distribution of technological hazards. The cumulative hazard density index provides a spatially sensitive methodology that reveals the disproportionate distribution of risk burdens in urban census tracts. The findings point to a consistent pattern of environmental injustice by class and race across a range of technological hazards in the Phoenix metropolitan region.

Self-Presentational Barriers to Resource Conservation

Four experiments examined the attributional consequences of engaging in conservation-oriented behavior. Based on symbolic interactionist and self-presentational theory, it was hypothesized that behaviors associated with resource conservation would tend to affect the perceived status of the performer and would lead to systematic attributions regarding the performers identity. In the three initial experiments, each manipulating a different conservation behavior, subjects were asked to judge the identity of a target person based on a description of the targets activities. Results indicated that stereotypes regarding the identity of people who engaged in the manipulated conservation-oriented behaviors were widely shared. Further, the performance of these particular energy conservation behaviors was found to stigmatize the target by lowering the targets perceived status and by negatively influencing other dimensions of identity. A final study explored the perceived appropriateness of engaging in particular conservationist activities given specific self-presentational concerns. The data revealed considerable inter subject agreement as to the appropriateness of such behavior in situations in which the goal is to convey a specific image of the self to a social audience. The research suggests that the self-presentational connotations of conservation-oriented activities may be important determinants of their performance.

EVALUATION OF AN ALTERNATIVE TRAFFIC LIGHT CHANGE ANTICIPATION SYSTEM

A driving simulator was used to study the efficacy of an alternative signal phasing program. The new Traffic Light Change Anticipation System (TLCAS) utilizes a flashing amber in conjunction with a solid green indication to warn drivers of the impending onset of the solid amber indication. This new program was expected to provide drivers with additional information with which to make safe stopping or crossing decisions, and reduce behaviour associated with increased accident rates at signalized intersections. Additionally, a new measure of first response variability was introduced to evaluate the effect of the new program on driver behavior. The results indicated that the new system has the ability to reduce the number of red light violations. Of the 1148 target intersections, 43 violations were recorded for the regular program compared to 9 for the TLCAS program. The severity of decelerations was also impacted. The regular program displayed average maximum decelerations of 3.1 m/sec2 compared to 2.5 m/sec2 for the TLCAS program. However, the TLCAS program showed an increased variability in first response five times larger than the regular program. This finding, in conjunction with traditional measures, indicates that the new system performs comparably to an increased amber duration by increasing the potential for conflicting decisions between successive drivers approaching an intersection. Altogether, the results suggest that this alternative signal phasing program would not improve intersection safety. The findings also suggest that further study of the longitudinal behavior after the introduction of a TLCAS program may be warranted. Specifically, future studies should examine whether subjects engage in appropriate adaptive changes when confronted with a solid amber period warning after becoming familiar with the TLCAS.

Environmental equity in a sunbelt city: the spatial distribution of toxic hazards in Phoenix, Arizona

Abstract This paper examines the spatial distributions of industrial facilities emitting toxic substances in the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan region. The analysis relies on geographic information system mapping of hazardous facilities listed in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) to assess the spatial distribution of polluting industries in relation to the demographic composition of host neighborhoods. The research addresses four questions: (1) Are there differences between the socioeconomic characteristics of neighborhoods with and without polluting industrial facilities? (2) Is there a relationship between the volume of toxic chemicals released from industrial facilities and the socioeconomic characteristics of host neighborhoods? (3) Is there a relationship between the toxicity of the chemicals released from industrial facilities and the socioeconomic characteristics of those living in proximity? (4) Do alternative methods for determining the distribution of potentially affected populations produce different observed patterns of environmental inequities? The study concludes that there is a clear pattern of environmental inequity in Phoenix based on the location and volume of emissions of TRI facilities. Analysis of the toxicity of emissions found a more equal distribution of risk, reflecting the suburbanization of high-technology industries into predominantly white middle-class communities.

The Perception of Room Size The Rectangularity Illusion

Three studies were conducted that explore the relationship between the shape and the perceived size of rectangular and square rooms. In each study, subjects were asked to estimate the size of rooms that varied in their ratio of length to width. The results of all three studies indicated a substantial illusion produced by rectangularity; more rectangular rooms consistently were estimated as larger than less rectangular rooms of equal size. This effect was independent of the viewing position of the observer. The implications of this illusion for room design are discussed.

Relationships among community size, mediators, and social support variables: A path analytic approach

There is a growing recognition o f the need to understand not only how social support functions in relation to characteristics o f the individual, but also how it may relate to aspects o f the communities in which it arises. The present study identified population size as a potentially important community variable vis-i~-vis social support. Urbanization theory was used to generate hypotheses about relationships among community size, mediators, and two social support variables: social network size and the average social support provided by network members. In a telephone survey o f four communities o f varying sizes, respondents answered questions about the social support provided by their network members, relations with neighbors, and the extent o f their social participation. The path analysis results suggested that larger communities are associated with lower average social support and a pattern o f social interaction which limits social participation and, in turn, network size.