Paul A. Mongeau

An experimental investigation of accounts and attributions following sexual infidelity

This study experimentally investigated accounts and attributions following sexual infidelity. Hypotheses predicted that differences in the infidelity (i.e., intent and revenge) would influence attributions about, and accounts generated to explain, the infidelity. Specific predictions also linked account production to attribution patterns. Students read a scenario that described a sexual infidelity performed by either a male or female, either intentionally or unintentionally, and being either revenge‐driven or not driven by revenge. Results indicate that revenge had a strong impact on attributions and accounts, whereas intent only inversely influenced the production of guilt. Relationships between accounts and attributions were consistent with predictions; however, the account category of silence reflected strong levels of responsibility, blame, and guilt yet was interpreted as quite aggravating. Consistent with traditional and modern sexual double standards, findings indicated sex differences in both acco...

First-Date Expectations The Impact of Sex of Initiator, Alcohol Consumption, and Relationship Type

This study investigated the impact of three factors (sex of initiator, alcohol consumption, and relationship type) relevant to the dominant American first-date script concerning communication and sexual expectations for first dates. After reading a hypothetical scenario describing a date initiation, 218 college students indicated the expectations they would have if they were the person going on the date. Results indicated that men have higher sexual expectations than do women and that participants’ sexual expectations are heightened when alcohol is available. Alcohol availability had complex effects on expectations for communication intimacy. Participants expected more intimate communication when dating partners were close friends than when they were casual acquaintances.

Defining Dates and First Date Goals Generalizing From Undergraduates to Single Adults

College students and single noncollege adults defined the term date, differentiated dates from going out with a friend, and described their reasons for going on their most recent first date. Responses indicate that single adults vary more in their orientation toward dating (e.g., an emphasis on a lifelong relationship) than do college students. Sex differences in first date goals appeared only in the college sample. College men were more likely to report sexual goals, whereas college women were more likely to report goals reflecting friendship, date-to-date, and having fun. Results highlight the importance of several forms of uncertainty reduction, shed light on an application of predicted outcome value theory, and suggest that the nature of commitment may differ across age groups.

Cognitive Processing of Fear-Arousing Message Content:

Path analyses were conducted to test models consistent with predictions made by the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) and Heuristic-Systematic Model (HSM) of cognitive processing. Levels of fear-arousing message content and trait anxiety were controlled. Broken out by fear-arousing content, a control analogous to issue involvement, the data show antagonistic message processing. For low-fear message recipients, messages were processed centrally (systematically). For high-fear message recipients, there is evidence of peripheral (heuristic) processing. Broken out by trait anxiety, a control analogous to both chronic fear and need for cognition, there is evidence of both concurrent and antagonistic processing. For low-anxiety people, there is evidence of simultaneous processing of central (systematic) and peripheral (heuristic) cues. For high-anxiety people, there is evidence of central (systematic) processing.

Identifying and Explicating Variation among Friends with Benefits Relationships

This two-study report identifies and validates a typology containing seven types of “friends with benefits relationships” (FWBRs). Study 1 asked heterosexual students to define the term FWBR and to describe their experience with the relationship type. Qualitative analysis of these data identified seven types of FWBRs (true friends, network opportunism, just sex, three types of transition in [successful, failed, and unintentional], and transition out). Study 2 quantitatively differentiates these relationship types in the amount of nonsexual interaction, strength of the friendship at the first sexual interaction, and history of romantic relationships with the FWBR partner (before the FWBR, after it, or both). Results from both studies clearly suggest that FWBRs represent a diverse set of relationship formulations where both the benefits (i.e., repeated sexual contact) and the friends (i.e., relationship between partners) vary widely. In many cases, FWBRs represent a desire for, or an attempt at, shifting the relationship from friends to a romantic partnership. Other implications are discussed, as are limitations and directions for future research. The diverse nature of FWBRs provides challenges for researchers that likely require multiple methods and theoretical frames.

Goals for cross‐sex first dates: identification, measurement, and the influence of contextual factors

Three studies identify goals that college students have for cross‐sex first dates, develop a scale to measure them, and determine how contextual factors influence reports of these goals. In study 1, college students identified goals for their most recent first dates. Study 2 developed a scale measuring have fun, reduce uncertainty, identify romantic potential, friendship, and sexual activity goals. In study 3 contextual factors (sex of initiator, alcohol availability, and partner knowledge) systematically influenced first date goals. Men and women differed in first date goals in all three studies. These goals highlight the importance of first dates as important relational events, and include multiple types of uncertainty reduction, in early relational stages.

Testing a model of message sidedness: Three replications

This experiment tested the results of a meta‐analysis of message sidedness (Jackson & Allen, 1987). The results are consistent with the prior meta‐analysis. Two‐sided refutational messages were more persuasive than one‐sided messages, which were in turn more persuasive than two‐sided nonrefutational messages. Testing the generalizability of this finding using 17 messages found consistent effects across the messages.

The Ideal Candidate A Study of the Desired Attributes of the Public and the Media Across Two Presidential Campaigns

The view of image as a transaction between what a candidate does and the evaluative response that voters have to it creates at least three critical questions as yet unanswered in the literature of political communication. First, although the power of the media to affect the success or failure of political campaigns and candidates has been demonstrated by researchers and is popularly believed, do the views of individual media members regarding the qualities necessary for presidential candidates differ significantly from those of the electorate? Second, although voters share many beliefs about the personal qualities that presidential candidates ought to possess, do these attributes vary from presidential election to election? Finally, although voter assessment of a candidates image is a major determinant of voter behavior and voters have a mental picture of an ideal candidate that they use to evaluate actual candidates, do the evaluative dimensions differ by party affiliation? The answers to these questions were determined from the results of a survey of 236 professional journalists covering and 444 voting citizens attending presidential rallies in New Hampshire in 1988 and 1992.

What he doesn't know won't hurt him (or me): Verbal responses and attributions following sexual infidelity

This experimental investigation focused on attributions and verbal responses (either a description of events or an account) presented to ones partner after a sexual infidelity. Motivation to maintain the relationship and the reproachers knowledge of the transgression were varied to investigate their impact on the type, honesty of, and attributional information in verbal responses. Results indicated that accounts were much more prevalent, and much more honest, as the partners knowledge of the transgression increased. The moderate knowledge condition was consistently troubling for participants who wanted to be apologetic in case their partner knew of the transgression yet not to give away too much information in case they did not. Motivation to maintain the relationship influenced both accounts and attributions as participants interested in maintaining the relationship felt more guilty and more blameworthy for their actions and presented kinder verbal responses.

Effects of Event Type and Sex on Comforting Messages.

The effects of event type, sex of participant, and sex of target on comforting messages were examined. Comforting messages were more sensitive in response to major events than to daily events. Females generally comforted more sensitively than did males. Comforting messages directed toward females were more sensitive than messages directed toward males. Participants were shown to have overestimated the quality of their comforting responses.