Social Psychological Constructs Research Articles

Financial Planning for Retirement: Bibliometric Analysis and Future Research Directions

This study aims to determine the status of existing research on financial planning for retirement. We used bibliometric analysis and content analysis to examine a sample of 1,116 studies conducted over a span of more than five decades. Bibliographic coupling network was developed to determine the intellectual themes in the field. Our findings suggest that the structural, economic, and cultural disparities worldwide lead to distinct pressures for savings on individuals. Further studies should be conducted considering emerging economies and the aforementioned disparities to gain deeper insights. While a few studies have examined the influence of social biases, behavioral biases, personality traits, and psychological constructs on financial literacy and the impact of this interaction on financial planning for retirement. We conclude by suggesting potential future research directions.

Kicking the Habit: What Makes and Breaks Farmers' Intentions to Reduce Pesticide Use?

There is a growing concern in society about the continuing intensive usage of pesticides in farming and its effects on environmental and human health. Insight in the intentions of farmers to reduce pesticide use may help identify pathways towards farming systems with reduced environmental impacts. We used the Reasoned Action Approach to identify which social-psychological constructs determine farmers' intentions to decrease pesticide use. We analysed 681 responses to an online survey to assess which constructs drive intention, and identified which beliefs pose barriers and drive the motivation of farmers to decrease pesticide use. Our results show that the intention to reduce pesticide use is strongly determined by whether other farmers also act. Furthermore, farmers perceive limited capacity and autonomy to reduce pesticide use, and motivations to reduce pesticide use were based on environmental considerations. Finally, decreasing pesticide use was considered risky, but the relative importance of risk attitude was offset by the environmental considerations of farmers. This indicates that farmers need successful examples of how to decrease pesticide use, either via exchange with peer farmers or knowledge provisioning on alternative pest control methods. These insights may be useful to direct policy making to influence farmers' intentions to decrease pesticide use.

Revisiting hope’s third pillar: Mattering, spirituality, and social connectedness among financially marginalized households

ABSTRACT While hope is an established strength within the catalog of positive psychology virtues and a theoretically established concept in economic development (Lybbert & Wydick, 2018), little applied research has considered the role of positive social institutions in maintaining hope under duress, especially among financially marginalized populations. Mattering is a social-psychological construct defined as an awareness that we are a significant part of the world around us (Elliott, Kao, & Grant, 2004). The authors tested the relationship between hope, spirituality, and three-dimensions of mattering (awareness, importance, and reliance), with adults experiencing income volatility while participating in an urban economic mobility intervention. Results indicate that subjects experiencing economic marginalization were more hopeful when they felt others chose to rely on them, even after taking personal spirituality into account. These findings suggest the importance of relationships and specific types of social connectedness in the expression of hope for economically marginalized individuals.

Validating automated integrative complexity: Natural language processing and the Donald Trump Test

Computer algorithms that analyze language (natural language processing systems) have seen a great increase in usage recently. While use of these systems to score key constructs in social and political psychology has many advantages, it is also dangerous if we do not fully evaluate the validity of these systems. In the present article, we evaluate a natural language processing system for one particular construct that has implications for solving key societal issues: Integrative complexity. We first review the growing body of evidence for the validity of the Automated Integrative Complexity (AutoIC) method for computer-scoring integrative complexity. We then provide five new validity tests: AutoIC successfully distinguished fourteen classic philosophic works from a large sample of both lay populations and political leaders (Test 1) and further distinguished classic philosophic works from the rhetoric of Donald Trump at higher rates than an alternative system (Test 2). Additionally, AutoIC successfully replicated key findings from the hand-scored IC literature on smoking cessation (Test 3), U.S. Presidents’ State of the Union Speeches (Test 4), and the ideology-complexity relationship (Test 5). Taken in total, this large body of evidence not only suggests that AutoIC is a valid system for scoring integrative complexity, but it also reveals important theory-building insights into key issues at the intersection of social and political psychology (health, leadership, and ideology). We close by discussing the broader contributions of the present validity tests to our understanding of issues vital to natural language processing.

Changing the Scale: The Effect of Modifying Response Scale Labels on the Measurement of Personality and Affect

Much research in psychology is based on self-report questionnaire data using items with Likert-type response scales. Often the same items are administered with different response scale labels in different studies. Using measures of personality and affect, the effect of type of label (bipolar or unipolar) on the categorical item responses was investigated with the methods of item response theory (IRT). In two studies, the effect of type of label was examined in the context of all options labeled and only endpoint options labeled. In Study 1, we found that when every number of a response scale is labeled, the responses to the same items differ between bipolar (agree-disagree) and unipolar (not at all – very much) labels. Study 2 showed that these differences are not observed when only the endpoints are labeled. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for measurement and research reporting of personality, clinical, health, social, and other psychological constructs. IRT methods offer a way to increase our understanding of the psychological processes underlying answering questions.

Why donate stem cells? A pilot validation of new measures for studying antecedents of stem cell donation intention

Social sciences literature on stem cells one of the most promising research venues in biomedical sciences is fragmented and lacks standard tools. This paper aims at presenting a first pilot validation of some stem cells-relevant social-psychological constructs' scales and an exploration of variables related bone marrow stem cells and umbilical cord blood stem cells donation intention. Eight scales were created for measuring the following variables: subjective knowledge on stem cells donation; objective knowledge on stem cells donation; attitudes toward stem cells donation; past tissue donation experience; positive incentives toward stem cells donation; negative incentives toward stem cells donation; intention of stem cells donation; importance of stem cells sustainabil-ity. A self-report questionnaire including new scales and existing scales from literature (norms, values, emotions) was administrated to 78 Italian subjects. Fac-torial structures were explored via factorial analyses with Principal Axis Factor-ing, Oblimin rotation and Cronbach's alpha tests. Two stepwise regression anal-yses were conducted to explore which variables are more related to the two kinds of donation intention. Most scales have been found to have a satisfacto-ry factorial structure and internal consistency (a>.60). Both kinds of donation intention have been found to be associated to self-transcendence values and positive emotions; bone marrow stem cells donation intention is also associated to conservation values, subjective knowledge, and past tissue donation experi-ence. Results are discussed according to current literature and suggesting re-search developments.

Testing Destination Image Scale Invariance For Intergroup Comparison

In destination image studies, researchers often compare individuals and groups with measurement scales. Classical Test Theory (CTT) assumes, when comparing groups, that the scale measures the same social psychological construct in all groups. The assurance of measurement invariance is a prerequisite for meaningful comparisons across groups. This article reviews theoretical and methodological issues regarding measurement invariance within the framework of confirmatory factor analysis, and aims to test the measurement invariance of the destination image scale by nationality and gender. Confirmatory factor analysis assures that scores obtained from a destination image measurement model can be generalized for three nationalities and gender groups. In this respect, the results of the survey provide evidence that the scale can deliver valid and reliable measurements in determining the characteristics of British, German, and Russian tourists without gender bias. Invariance test assures the measurement model to be invariant for both females and males and therefore it is appropriate to compare the results across genders. The findings of this research and analysis methods used provide valuable insights to destination image literature and cast light on the path for future researchers.

All Thinking is 'Wishful' Thinking.

People often seek new information and eagerly update their beliefs. Other times they avoid information or resist revising their beliefs. What explains those different reactions? Answers to this question often frame information processing as a competition between cognition and motivation. Here, we dissolve this dichotomy by bringing together two theoretical frameworks: epistemic motivation and active inference. Despite evolving from different intellectual traditions, both frameworks attest to the indispensability of motivational considerations to the epistemic process. The imperatives that guide model construction under the epistemic motivation framework can be mapped onto key constructs in active inference. Drawing these connections offers a way of articulating social psychological constructs in terms of Bayesian computations and provides a generative testing ground for future work.

Storytelling of bureaucratic white-collar crimes in Indonesia: is it a matter of reciprocal norm?

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to contribute to the existing fraud studies and theory (fraud triangle) from bureaucratic crime perspectives. Importantly, this paper answers calls on research, exploring the routines of interaction both micro- and social psychological constructs in studying fraudulent behaviours. These aspects are relatively new, which have a little attention from auditing and fraud literature.Design/methodology/approachExperienced fraud perpetrators were used for this study. A semi-structured interview technique was used, allowing to uncover rich descriptive data on the personal experiences of participants. It allowed them to tell and illustrate why and how they get involved in fraudulent activities.FindingsMany explanations, from a wide variety of perspectives, have been advanced to explain why people commit fraud in bureaucracy. Using reciprocity and exchange theory as a basis, it was found strong evidence for expanding fraud triangle theory (Cressey, 1953) as a predictor of individual’s intention to commit white-collar crimes. Evidence of these results provides a new challenge to other accounts of why systemic fraud would or would not occur. In this point, it highlights the concepts of social exchange and the norm of reciprocity serve as a useful beginning for explaining the factors that cause someone to commit occupational fraud. Generally, a number of distinct empirical and theoretical contributions arise from the current study.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the enrichment of fraud theory and literature, from psychological perspectives. With regard to the reciprocity between peers within and outside organisation, it offers theoretical frameworks about the reasons for the decisions to commit white-collar crimes. As such, it advances fraud and auditing studies.

Less than human: psychopathy, dehumanization, and sexist and violent attitudes towards women

Psychopathy is associated with a variety of negative attitudes and behaviours towards women; however, the mechanisms that underlie these associations have yet to be fully examined. The current work examined dehumanization, a social-psychological construct, as a potential mechanism facilitating the association between sub-clinical psychopathy and negative attitudes towards women. Two online studies with all-male samples were conducted to examine whether dehumanization helps to explain the association between psychopathy and sexist and violent attitudes towards women. In Study 1 (n = 514), path analyses indicated that psychopathy was indirectly related to sexist and violent attitudes towards women through dehumanization. Study 2 (n = 265) replicated the findings of Study 1 regarding sexism. It also included a date rape analogue measure of violent attitudes and was able to expand on the findings of Study 1, though only for the interpersonal and affective components of psychopathy. These results may suggest that individuals high in psychopathic traits see women as sub-human, this dehumanizing appraisal may be facilitating attitudes and behaviours that are consistent with the idea that women are less than human and deserve to be treated as such. Our results suggest that dehumanization may be an important mechanism for understanding, and potentially mitigating, the association between psychopathy and negative attitudes towards women.

Understanding energy-saving behaviors in the American workplace: A unified theory of motivation, opportunity, and ability

Occupant behavior has a significant impact on building energy consumption. To reduce energy use in office buildings, various intervention strategies have been investigated to promote energy-saving behaviors among occupants. However, the influential factors of these behaviors have not been fully understood in existing studies. To fill this gap, this study proposes an integrated Motivation-Opportunity-Ability (MOA) framework which incorporates social-psychological constructs from the Norm Activation Model and the Theory of Planned Behavior to investigate the determinants of energy-saving behaviors in the office environment. An online survey is distributed to collect data from multiple office buildings across the U.S. Results of the structural equation model (n = 612) show that opportunity has the strongest effect on energy-saving behaviors, followed by motivation and ability. In addition, motivation mediates the effect of opportunity and ability. This proposed framework offers an approach for decision-makers to design effective energy interventions based on the constraining factors in the targeted buildings.

The Rhetoric of Self-Adulation in Contemporary Nigerian Popular Music: A Psychological Perspective

The tendency among many Nigerian popular music artists to engage in self-adulation has been identified in some studies, but has not received enough pointed and focused attention. This article therefore takes a close look at this phenomenon. Twelve songs by eight different artists deemed to be sufficiently representative of contemporary popular music in Nigeria were purposively selected for the study. They were analysed thematically on the basis of some constructs in social psychology. Based on the analyses, this article concludes that self-adulation in contemporary Nigerian popular music serves the artists as a defence mechanism in the face of palpable threats to their self-esteem, which are generated by specific social realities. The attendant lyrics which often involve the flaunting of wealth and women have the capacity to encourage crass materialism and the denigration of women among the young impressionable fans of the musical genre. The article recommends some reorientation that would encourage artists and their producers to take the overall social implications of their lyrics into cognisance and make necessary adjustments to avoid misguiding youth into vain materialism and gender bias.

The Influence of Relationship Closeness on Central Motives for Joint Shopping and Satisfaction with the Shopping Experience among Adolescents

It is well known that adolescents like to shop in groups and together with their friends. However, the term „friend” can have many different connotations among teenagers. Associations range from loose acquaintances to best friends, from superficial connections to the closest relationships. Studies show that the relationship type has an impact on numerous social-psychological and consumer-relevant constructs. In spite of this fact, the relationship between adolescents has not been addressed by previous research on shopping companionship. The aim of this paper is to examine the influence of relationship intensity on interactions during joint shopping, and satisfaction derived from such shopping experience. The results of a field study with 78 participants show that the perceived pleasure and the intensity of advice during shopping together in close relationships are particularly high. In addition, the perceived pleasure mediates the relationship between relationship intensity and satisfaction with the shopping experience.

Emergence of social groups after a biosecurity incursion

This paper examines the formation of social groups in the first 3 months following a significant biosecurity incursion, extending our understanding of a social system in the context of an ongoing emergency response. The broader implications of social change and coping responses post-incursion are a relevant and useful discussion worldwide. Farmers (N = 25) were recruited from three dominant banana-growing regions in North Queensland, Australia. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a semi-structured format. Key topics covered included perceptions of Panama Tropical Race 4 (TR4), on-farm biosecurity activities, social influences and comparisons, and personal stress. This qualitative approach uses well-known social psychological constructs to help understand and frame farmers’ social behaviours post-incursion. TR4 was perceived as a significant threat by participants; yet, perceptions of vulnerability to TR4 and biosecurity engagement varied. Two dominant social groupings emerged from the data. Active adopters were characterised as proactive and innovative growers, prioritising individual farm protection for the benefit of the broader industry. There was a high level of social support, trust and efficacy, facilitating an adaptive coping style. Passive adopters implemented straightforward and less costly biosecurity measures on farm but were not willing to commit to greater financial or time investments. They expressed an overall wariness towards the biosecurity management process and little trust in authorities. A small sub-group of passive adopters also displayed clear maladaptive coping characteristics (e.g. denial, helplessness) towards TR4, believing that biosecurity action at this point was futile. Proximity to TR4-affected property emerged as having an interactional effect on biosecurity uptake and risk perception. Here, we show for the first time, in situ, the complex social environment post-incursion, indicative of high stress and high uncertainty. Findings can be used on-ground to improve extension engagement and risk communication with growers post-incursion, being mindful there exists a range of coping styles and social influences.

Backpacker Personal Development, Generalized Self-Efficacy, and Self-Esteem: Testing a Structural Model

Guided by self-determination theory (SDT), this study aims to advance the theoretical understanding of backpacker personal development (BPD) by examining its relationships with two important social-psychological constructs, that is, generalized self-efficacy (GSE) and self-esteem (SE). Using two samples from different cultural groups (Chinese backpackers, n=230; Western backpackers, n=242) and applying the partial least squares structural equation modeling, the study found that among Chinese backpackers, skill development positively influenced GSE while worldview changes negatively influenced SE. For Western backpackers, capability development and emotional adjustment positively influenced their GSE. The positive effects of GSE on SE were confirmed in both samples. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Forbearance of culturally inappropriate leadership behaviors: a conceptual model

PurposeSelection and training of expatriates emphasizes the importance of respecting and adapting to local cultural norms. However, even when motivated to modify their behavior, expatriates tend to act in ways which transgress host country cultural norms. While such transgressions can harm working relationships between expatriate manager and host country nationals (HCNs), this is not an inevitable outcome. The purpose of this paper is to apply the social psychological construct of forbearance to create a model which considers how transgression severity, responsibility attributions made by the HCN, empathy, and expatriate manager reputation influence HCN forbearance in the face of culturally inappropriate leadership behaviors.Design/methodology/approachThis is a conceptual paper, which proposes forbearance as a process which can reduce dysfunctional outcomes on working relationships resulting from culturally inappropriate behaviors by expatriate managers.FindingsThe author argues that differences between expatriate and host country implicit leadership theories influence HCN attributions for culturally inappropriate leadership behaviors. These attributions, together with expatriate reputation, HCN empathy, and the severity of the cultural transgression, will determine the extent to which HCNs are likely to exercise forbearance.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper suggests several important lines of research into the initial establishment of an effective working relationship between expatriate and HCN. Suggestions for further elaboration and testing of the model are also provided.Practical implicationsThe model points to important processes (e.g. establishing incoming expatriate’s reputation, managing attributions, and facilitating empathy) which have the potential to reduce difficulties early in the assignment.Originality/valueMuch research into expatriate adjustment focuses on the expatriate. This paper adopts the perspective of the HCN, providing a framework for better understanding perceptual and attributional processes influencing the relationship.

What makes you a ‘hero’ for nature? Socio-psychological profiling of leaders committed to nature and biodiversity protection across seven EU countries

Biodiversity loss is a widely debated world problem, with huge economic, social, and environmentally negative consequences. Despite the relevance of this issue, the psychological determinants of committed action towards nature and biodiversity have rarely been investigated. This study aims at identifying a comprehensive social-psychological profile of activists committed to biodiversity protection and at understanding what determinants best predict their activism. A questionnaire investigating relevant social-psychological constructs identified in the literature on environmental activism was administered to 183 outstanding leaders (vs. non-leaders) in biodiversity protection across seven EU countries. Leaders (vs. non-leaders) in biodiversity protection showed, among other constructs, higher scores on environmental values, attitudes, identity, perceived control, a feeling of union and spirituality with nature, and willingness to sacrifice for their cause. Results are discussed within the theoretical framework of a motivation model of committed action for nature and biodiversity protection. Applications of the results are also proposed.

A social model of posttraumatic stress disorder: Interpersonal trauma, attachment, group identification, disclosure, social acknowledgement, and negative cognitions

In response to calls for social models of PTSD (Charuvastra & Cloitre, 2008), we hypothesise relationships between interpersonal/non-interpersonal traumatic events, fearful attachment style, emotional disclosure, group identification, social acknowledgment, posttraumatic cognitions and core trauma symptoms. The utility of social support vs social acknowledgement is also briefly considered. To test this exploratory model, a cross-sectional survey of participants (N = 298) with varying levels of traumatic symptoms following mixed traumas was conducted. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to analyse the model. Results support a mediational model, with group identification appearing to mediate the relationship between fearful attachment and social acknowledgement, emotional disclosure appearing to mediate the relationship between interpersonal trauma and social acknowledgment, and posttraumatic cognitions appearing to mediate the relationship between social acknowledgement and core trauma symptoms. Results suggest that, within this exploratory model, social acknowledgment and social support explain a similar amount of variance in traumatic symptoms, but acknowledgment explains considerably more variance in cognitions than social support. The paper successfully applies current theoretical insights on group identification processes to the posttraumatic environment. This theoretical application is relatively novel within the PTSD literature and helps stimulate new theory in this domain. It also provides further evidence of the ‘social cure’ theory. More broadly, the findings highlight the utility of social psychological constructs in helping explain trauma symptoms. We discuss the implications of our findings, the study limitations and suggest avenues for further research.

Developing pro-environmental behaviour: ecotourism fieldtrip and experiences

PurposeThis study aims to assess the effectiveness of a student participatory approach and assessment to achieve an environmentally friendly behaviour and change strategy.Design/methodology/approachThree time-phase studies employed a participatory and experiential case in the form of ecotourism experiential learning and assessment using a sample of 100 higher education students.FindingsThe findings suggest that students’ participations through the development, implementation and maintenance of nature-based experiences, combined with professional guides in educating students about sustainable practices has significant and positive effects on pro-environmental behaviour (PEB). The study reveals that social-psychological constructs (except environmental awareness) and socio-demographic variables account for variances in PEB intentions and provides managerial implications for marketers on the use of student participation to enhance behaviour.Practical implicationsExperiential and guided learning adds value to PEB through performance accomplishments and instrumental support.Social implicationsThe guiding principles of moral norms and acting in favour of the community (general social pressure and the underlying normative beliefs) lead to a higher tendency to perform according to the ideal behaviour.Originality/valueThis study is the first to use student participation, guided learning, tour guides and experiences to transfer the knowledge of PEB to individuals.

Network Analysis on Attitudes

In this article, we provide a brief tutorial on the estimation, analysis, and simulation on attitude networks using the programming language R. We first discuss what a network is and subsequently show how one can estimate a regularized network on typical attitude data. For this, we use open-access data on the attitudes toward Barack Obama during the 2012 American presidential election. Second, we show how one can calculate standard network measures such as community structure, centrality, and connectivity on this estimated attitude network. Third, we show how one can simulate from an estimated attitude network to derive predictions from attitude networks. By this, we highlight that network theory provides a framework for both testing and developing formalized hypotheses on attitudes and related core social psychological constructs.