Melanie R. Trost

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

Dyadic Exploration of the Relationship of Leisure Satisfaction, Leisure Time, and Gender to Relationship Satisfaction

Despite a substantial amount of leisure research, little is known about the leisure activity patterns and satisfaction of couples and their influence, if any, on relationship satisfaction. Further, satisfaction and leisure activity research has been limited to married dyads and has not included a range of romantic partners. Leisure research has focused primarily on individual data, and this impedes fully understanding the joint construction of leisure in a couple and its outcomes. The present research extends efforts by examining the perceptions of dyads in diverse relationships and their effect on their leisure and relationship satisfaction. The model in this study is that gender, joint leisure time, and individual leisure satisfaction affect the relationship satisfaction of both an individual and his or her partner: the partner effect model. Questionnaires self-administered to both members of romantic dyads obtained information on the variables of interest. Results indicated moderate participant leisure satisfaction and a near-significant relationship between gender and relationship satisfaction. However, the model that individual leisure satisfaction would influence both an individual and a partners relationship satisfaction was not supported by the data. Nonetheless, dyadic research remains a rich area for conceptual and methodological advancement, and therefore subsequent research suggestions are presented.Despite a substantial amount of leisure research, little is known about the leisure activity patterns and satisfaction of couples and their influence, if any, on relationship satisfaction. Further, satisfaction and leisure activity research has been limited to married dyads and has not included a range of romantic partners. Leisure research has focused primarily on individual data, and this impedes fully understanding the joint construction of leisure in a couple and its outcomes. The present research extends efforts by examining the perceptions of dyads in diverse relationships and their effect on their leisure and relationship satisfaction. The model in this study is that gender, joint leisure time, and individual leisure satisfaction affect the relationship satisfaction of both an individual and his or her partner: the partner effect model. Questionnaires self-administered to both members of romantic dyads obtained information on the variables of interest. Results indicated moderate participant leisure...

Minority influence: Personal relevance biases cognitive processes and reverses private acceptance

Abstract Previous research found that a minority group advocacy elicits private acceptance of its message. However, these findings are from studies in which minorities advocate issues of low to moderate personal involvement for subjects. Theoretical considerations from the persuasion literature led to the hypothesis that high personal relevance could elicit rejection of a minority influence attempt. Results show that a minority source was persuasive when advocating a counterattitudinal position of low personal relevance. Under conditions of high relevance, however, the minoritys arguments elicited only resistance. Positive responses to minorities under conditions of low relevance were replaced with minority derogation under high relevance. Analyses of mediating cognitive processes suggest that the valence and types of thoughts elicited mediated this resistance to the minority advocacy. The majority advocacy elicited undifferentiated responses, regardless of level of personal relevance. The study establishes that personal relevance can set an important boundary condition on minority influence, limiting the persuasiveness of a consistent minority advocacy on personally important issues.

Communication and emotion

Publisher Summary This chapter provides the basic emotion concepts and the popular approaches to studying emotion. The chapter begins by differentiating three related constructs—affect, emotion, and mood; and differentiates between emotional experience and expression. Three prominent approaches to emotion that are discussed in the social psychology are reviewed: the discrete emotions, dimensional, and prototype approaches. Affective valence is the most basic feature of emotion. Emotions are characterized by four components. The cognitive component refers to the interpretation of the emotion-eliciting event or stimuli, and any resultant changes in perceptions or beliefs. Action readiness concerns increases or decreases in ones desire to take action. The third component, feelings, references the valence of the emotion, including the pleasure/pain dimension. Finally, physiological change refers to increases or decreases in arousal level and physiological reactions such as sweaty palms and blushing. Emotions are typically characterized as having an object or identifiable stimulus event, such as joy after having a child or anger at being jilted. In contrast, moods are frequently described as more diffuse and nonspecific.

Ethnicity and sex similarities and differences in drug resistance

Abstract Drug resistance skills form the core of most drug prevention programs. Recent work has begun to describe drug resistance processes among high school and college students. The current study attempts to extend this work by examining a younger population and describing ethnic and sex similarities and differences. The primary goal was to establish the descriptive basis for future research by identifying how drugs are offered and resisted, examining the social context of drug offers, and reporting on the roles of ethnicity and sex. Results of interviews with 158 middle school adolescents indicate that most offers they receive are simple and explicit, with slightly more than a quarter of these offers followed by repeated pressure. Offers are resisted by enacting a relatively restricted range of strategies, the primary resistance strategy being a simple no. Drugs tend to be offered in public or in homes. When European American, African American, and Latino/a students are compared, Latinos/as are signifi...

Not everyone listens when you “just say no”: Drug resistance in relational context

Abstract The purpose of this study was to better understand the role of adolescents’ personal relationships in drug offer scenarios. 2,166 junior high school students from 31 schools participated in a questionnaire study that asked them to describe a time when they had been offered drugs. Results indicate that adolescents are most frequently offered drugs by close relations (same‐sex friends, romantic partners, and brothers or male cousins); moreover, offers from family members and romantic partners were particularly difficult to resist. Although simple offers were most frequent type of offer, nonverbal presentation of the drug was the most effective. Students typically resisted by saying no and leaving the situation, but these strategies were not as effective across all relational partners. Response complexity was a better predictor of resistance than offer complexity. These findings are discussed within a goals framework (Dillard, 1990) that also provides suggestions on how future intervention programs ...

Effects of Category Prototypes on Performance-Rating Accuracy

Two studies examined whether the accessibility of performance prototypes influences performance appraisals. Pilot studies revealed students used performance prototypes when rating instructor performance. Study 1 manipulated the accessibility of these prototypes and the time delay of performance ratings. Results showed no effect of the prime on rating error and accuracy ; however, discrimination accuracy decreased over time and recognition bias became more conservative. Study 2 manipulated prototype accessibility and type of rating stimuli ( videotape vs. vignette). Rating accuracy and recall were higher for vignette than videotape stimuli, and only those participants exposed to the vignette exhibited priming effects. Results supported transfer-appropriate processing and implied that cognitive primes may have a stronger effect on performance ratings based on paper-people than videotaped stimuli.

How men and women communicate attraction: An evolutionary view

Contents: Preface. Part I: Framing Sex Differences and Similarities. K. Dindia, Men Are From North Dakota, Women Are From South Dakota. E. Aries, Gender Differences in Interaction: A Reexamination. P.H. Wright, Toward an Expanded Orientation to the Comparative Study of Womens and Mens Same-Sex Friendships. J.A. Hall, How Big Are Nonverbal Sex Differences? The Case of Smiling and Nonverbal Sensitivity. G.N. Powell, L.M. Graves, Gender and Leadership: Perceptions and Realities. M. Allen, K.S. Valde, Researching a Gendered World: The Intersection of Methodological and Ethical Concerns. Part II: Approaches to Sex Differences and Similarities. P.A. Anderson, The Evolution of Biological Sex Differences in Communication. B.R. Burleson, A.W. Kunkel, Revisiting the Different Cultures Thesis: An Assessment of Sex Differences and Similarities in Supportive Communication. A.H. Eagly, A.M. Koenig, Social Role Theory of Sex Differences and Similarities: Implication for Prosocial Behavior. M. Crawford, M.R. Kaufman, Sex Differences Versus Social Processes in the Construction of Gender. L. Di Mare, V.R. Waldron, Researching Gendered Communication in Japan and the United States: Current Limitations and Alternative Approaches. Part III: Sex Differences and Similarities in Communicative Behaviors. A. Mulac, The Gender-Linked Language Effect: Do Language Differences Really Make a Difference? L.K. Guerrero, S.M. Jones, R.R. Boburka, Sex Differences in Emotional Communication. J.K. Burgoon, J.P. Blair, D.B. Buller, P. Tilley, Sex Differences in Presenting and Detecting Deceptive Messages. A.E. Lindsey, W.R. Zakahi, Perceptions of Men and Women Departing From Conversational Sex-Role Stereotypes. P.J. Kalbfleisch, A.L. Herold, Sex, Power, and Communication. Part IV: Sex Differences and Similarities in Romantic Relationships. M.R. Trost, J.K. Alberts, How Men and Women Communicate Attraction: An Evolutionary View. P.A. Mongeau, M.C.M. Serewicz, M.L.M. Henningsen, K.L. Davis, Sex Differences in the Transition to a Heterosexual Romantic Relationship. D.J. Canary, J. Wahba, Do Women Work Harder Than Men at Maintaining Relationships? L.M. Sagrestano, C.L. Heavey, A. Christensen, Individual Differences Versus Social Structural Approaches to Explaining Demand-Withdraw and Social Influence Behaviors. J.T. Wood, Gender, Power, and Violence in Heterosexual Relationships. J.S. Hyde, Epilogue.