Richard M. Sorrentino

The effect of quantity and quality of verbal interaction on ratings of leadership ability

Abstract Sixteen four-member groups engaged in a problem-solving situation in which the goal was to maximize gains and minimize losses in a matrix type game. One of the members of each group, a trained confederate, independently varied his quantity and quality of verbal interaction in order to determine their importance in determining leadership emergence. While quality of verbal interaction was found to predict perceived differences on such variables as competence, influence, and contribution to the groups goal, only quantity of verbal interaction predicted perceived differences in leadership ability. The data suggest that this paradox may be due to quantity being a clearer indication of a group members intentions than quality.

Uncertainty orientation and protection motivation theory : the role of individual differences in health compliance

The experiment was designed to determine the influence of uncertainty orientation (R. M. Sorrentino, J. C. Short, 1986) on compliance with a diagnostic health behavior. Ss (N=155) read 1 version of an education essay on a disease and diagnostic response. Threat and efficacy information were manipulated. Consistent with protection motivation theory (R. W. Rogers, 1983), uncertainty-oriented Ss sought more health-related information as threat and efficacy increased. Certainty-oriented Ss, however, sought more health-related information as threat or efficacy, but not both, increased. Individual differences were also found on adaptive measures and ineffective alternative responses

Interpersonal exchange as a function of rewards and costs and situational factors: Expectancy confirmation-disconfirmation☆

Abstract Sailors interacted, via an intercom system, with another man, presumably his partner (actually an experimenter confederate) over four 45-minute sessions. During this time the subjects confided personal information about themselves and the confederate responded to this information so as to create four experimental conditions of reinforcement: (1) Continuous Positive, (2) Later Positive, (3) Continuous Negative, and (4) Later Negative. Our hypotheses about the role of reward/cost effects on social penetration processes were generally confirmed, and agree with prior studies despite rather broad methodological differences. Those having favorable interpersonal experiences talked about more aspects of themselves (breadth), spoke longer when so doing (average time talked), and were generally more intimate (depth) than those in negative conditions. For breadth and average time measures, differences were primarily at intimate levels of exchange. Many differences were developmental in nature, occurring during later stages of interaction for depth and during earlier stages for average time. These findings were somewhat unique to specific reward/cost conditions; e.g., increased depth of disclosure was primarily attributable to Later Positive groups and the average time finding was largely evident in Continuous Positive groups. In general, the overall social penetration process was greatest for Continuous Positive and least for Continuous Negative conditions.

Risk-taking in games of chance and skill: Informational and affective influences on choice behavior.

Three studies to pinpoint the underlying dynamics related to risk-taking in skilled and chance situations are presented. Study 1 is an attempt to demonstrate that cognitive and motivational theories of risk-taking must be combined to account for individual differences in skilled situations. Studies 2 and 3 show that the effect for uncertainty orientation generalizes to chance situations.

A Theory of Uncertainty Orientation Implications for the Study of Individual Differences Within and Across Cultures

The present study investigates whether Canadian and Japanese university students differ in how they deal with uncertainty. In addition to examining individual differences in uncertainty orientation, Weinsteins measure of unrealistic optimism and Hofstede’s measures of uncertainty avoidance and individualism-collectivism were examined. Participants were 535 Canadian and Japanese undergraduate men and women. In support of the main prediction, Canadian students were found to be more uncertainty oriented (UO) as compared to Japanese students, who were more certainty oriented(CO) (p< .001). It is interesting to note that significant Uncertainty Orientation Country interactions on the additional measures were also found. Whereas COs showed high levels of unrealistic optimism and uncertainty avoidance and low levels of individualism in Canada, UOs showed this pattern in Japan. These differences are consistent with the theory of uncertainty orientation in terms of whether cultural orientations toward uncertainty match or do not match one’s self-regulatory style

Uncertainty orientation and cooperative learning: individual differences within and across cultures

Abstract Four studies are presented with different samples of students (grade school, high school, university, teachers) from different cultures (Canadian, German, Iranian). Across these samples it was found that, when asked to state their learning preferences, all samples preferred cooperative learning to other types of learning. However, this preference was greater for uncertainty-oriented persons than certainty-oriented persons as predicted by the theory of uncertainty orientation (Sorrentino & Short 1986). Also as predicted, when actually placed in different learning situations, whereas uncertainty-oriented students had a greater preference and performed better in a cooperative situation (the Jigsaw) than a traditional expository situation, certainty-oriented students were more negative and performed worse in the cooperative than traditional learning situation. Student teachers showed similar preferences as a function of their uncertainty orientation. Implications for advocates of cooperative learning, as well as other forms that do not account for individual differences, are discussed.

The role of perceived norms in the stigmatization of mental illness.

BackgroundPast research on stigmatization of the mentally ill has emphasized the importance of beliefs about mental illness in determining preferred social distance to those with such illnesses. In the current paper we examine the importance of perceived social norms in improving the prediction of social distance preferences.MethodsTwo hundred university students completed scales measuring their beliefs about either depression or schizophrenia; their perception of relevant social norms and their preferred level of social distance to someone with schizophrenia or depression. Measures of social desirability bias were also completed.ResultsThe proportion of variance in preferred social distance was approximately doubled when perceived norms were added to beliefs about illness in a regression equation. Perceived norms were the most important predictor of social distance to an individual with either illness. A general preference for social distance towards a control, non-ill person was also an independent predictor of behavioral intentions toward someone with either schizophrenia or depression.ConclusionsPerceived social norms are an important contributor to an individual’s social distance to those with mental illness. Messages designed to influence perceived social norms may help reduce stigmatization of the mentally ill.

The theory of uncertainty orientation: a mathematical reformulation

In this paper, we present a mathematical formulation derived from the theory of uncertainty orientation (In R.M. Sorrehtino, & E.T. Higgins (Eds.), the handbook of motivation and cognition: Foundations of social behaviour, Vol. 1 (pp. 379-403). New York: The Guilford press; The uncertain mind: Individual differences in facing the unknown. London: Erlbaum (UK), Taylor & Francis). This formulation integrates affective and informational influences on thought and action. It is a model of self-regulation where the need to maintain clarity and the need to attain clarity are considered as two independent informational tendencies. These informational tendencies are influenced by the degree of self-relevance and the amount of perceived situational uncertainty. In addition, they are multiplicative with affective approach and avoidance tendencies, leading to accentuation or inhibition of behaviours expressed in action. It is further demonstrated that when the nondominant action tendency is instigated, secondary source of motivation are expressed. This model not only accounts for past data, but also permits exploration using computer simulation. In addition, many new and testable hypotheses, including those related to affect and dynamical decision theory, are generated.

The influence of the minority on perception: A note on a possible alternative explanation

Abstract This research note raises some concerns about possible alternative explanations to studies using perceptual change as indicative of minority vs majority influence. Having failed to replicate the original study (S. Moscovici & B. Personnaz, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology 1980, 16, 270–282), using the same and an alternate measuring procedure, inspection of additional data introduces the role of suspiciousness in explaining this and previous findings. An informal study adds further credence to this explanation.

Are Personal Values of Importance in the Stigmatization of People with Mental Illness

Objectives: To investigate the relation of responses to the Schwartz Value Scale to preferred social distance to a person with either schizophrenia or depression. The influence of personal value priorities on discrimination has been investigated in several contexts, but seldom with reference to social distance towards those with mental illness. Method: University students (n = 200) completed the Schwartz Value Scale, as well as a measure of beliefs about mental illness and preferred social distance with reference to a vignette describing a person with either schizophrenia or depression. Results: Consistent with past findings, respondents indicated a preference for greater social distance for schizophrenia than depression, and beliefs about likelihood of socially inappropriate behaviour and danger were correlated with social distance. Self-transcendence value orientation was a significant independent predictor of preference for less social distance. These findings were not influenced by a social desirability bias. Conclusions: Value orientation makes a significant contribution to the prediction of social distance towards those with mental illness. Evaluation of value-based interventions to reduce such discrimination appears warranted.