Differences In Social Desirability Research Articles

Support-Giving Is Associated With Lower Systemic Inflammation.

Support-giving has emerged as a health-relevant social behavior, such that giving more support is associated with better physical health. However, biological mechanisms by which support-giving and health are linked remain unclear. Whether support-giving uniquely relates to health relative to other psychosocial factors is also an open research question. Two studies test the hypothesis that support-giving is uniquely (over-and-above other psychosocial factors) related to lower systemic inflammation, a biological correlate of health. Cross-sectional associations of support-giving with markers of systemic inflammation (i.e., interleukin-6 [IL-6], C-reactive protein [CRP]) were examined in two independent samples of midlife adults (Study 1, n = 746; Study 2, n = 350). Consistent with hypotheses, giving to more social targets (to family and friends, and also volunteering for various causes), but not receiving support from similar targets, was associated with lower IL-6. In conceptual replication and extension with a different measure of support-giving, higher frequency of support-giving behavior was associated with lower IL-6, even after adjusting for social network size and individual differences in social desirability. There were no associations between support-giving and CRP in either sample. Future research needs to establish causality and directly test mechanistic pathways, but together, findings reaffirm the health-relevance of support-giving behavior and shed light on a promising biological mechanism by which such effects may occur.

Gender differences in social desirability and approval biases, and associations with diet quality in young adults.

Social desirability and approval biases can influence self-report of diet, contributing to inaccurate assessment. Biases may be influenced by sex. This study examined gender differences in social desirability and approval, and diet quality in young adults, and relationships between social biases and diet quality. Data from 1003 young adults participating in the Advice, Ideas and Motivation for My Eating trial, median age 21.7 years, BMI 24.7 kg/m2 were included. Biases were measured using Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale Short-Form, Martin Larsen Approval Motivation Scale, and diet quality using the Australian Recommended Food Score. Pearson chi-square, t-test and Wilcoxon tests evaluated gender differences and Spearman's rank-order tested strengths of correlations between biases and diet quality. Social desirability did not differ by gender, however females reported higher social approval scores than males (p = 0.009). Among females, there was a positive correlation between social desirability and diet quality (p = 0.002), and between social approval and dairy sub-scale (p < 0.001); and a negative correlation between social approval and vegetable subscale (p = 0.045). Among males there were no correlations between social desirability or social approval and overall diet quality. Social approval may be more common in females and influence self-reported diet. To address bias and mis-reporting errors, future studies should account for participants' social desirability and/or social approval status, especially among young adult females. Further research is needed to explore gender differences in social desirability and approval in young adults, and associations between social biases and diet quality.

Socially desirable responding in geriatric outpatients with and without mild cognitive impairment and its association with the assessment of self-reported mental health

BackgroundSocially desirable responding is a potentially relevant issue in older adults and can be evaluated with the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSDS). However, the eight-item MCSDS has never been specifically administered to geriatric subjects, and there is a dearth of literature on the relationship between social desirability and cognitive impairment. Also, the connection between social desirability and subjective measures of psychological well-being is a matter of controversy. This study has three main aims. First, to determine the psychometric properties of the eight-item MCSDS in geriatric outpatients without dementia (i.e. with normal cognition (NC) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI)). Second, to investigate the link between social desirability and cognitive functioning. Third, to determine the association between social desirability and the assessment of self-reported mental health.MethodsCommunity-dwelling outpatients (aged ≥ 65) were consecutively recruited and neuropsychologically tested to diagnose NC or MCI (n = 299). Social desirability was assessed with the eight-item MCSDS. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured with the short Geriatric Depression (GDS-s) and the State-Trait Personality Inventory Trait Anxiety (STPI-TA) scales.ResultsOn principal components analysis, the eight-item MCSDS was found to have a multidimensional structure. Of the initial three-component solution, only two subscales had acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.6): “Acceptance of responsibility” and “Integrity”. The third subscale (“Kindness towards others”) appeared to gauge two distinct constructs of formal (i.e. politeness) versus substantive (i.e. forgiveness) compassion. On binary logistic regression, only higher income was a significant predictor of formal compassion. Test-retest reliability was substantial to excellent (Gwet’s AC2 ≥ 0.8). There were no meaningful differences in social desirability between the NC and MCI groups. Likewise, negative Spearman’s correlations between social desirability and cognitive Z-scores across the whole sample were weak (rs < |0.3|) and confined to one MCSDS item. Although social desirability was an independent predictor of the STPI-TA score in multiple linear regression, it explained only a marginal amount of incremental variance in anxiety symptoms (less than 2%).ConclusionsOur results suggest that social desirability need not be a major concern when using questionnaires to assess mental health in geriatric outpatients without dementia.

Cultural differences in the response conduct to personality inventories

Response styles in psychological assessment and research have been identified as an important threat to the validity of the research and to the level of confidence that a research may have. This can represent a problem namely in an intercultural research, due to the fact that individuals from different cultures may use different response scales in different ways. A sample of 90 participants, 45 Romanian and 45 Korean, aged between 28 and 55 years of age, have been assessed with The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and with California Personality Inventory (CPI). The main objective was to identify significant cultural differences regarding the response conduits of the participants. Based on this objective we emitted the following hypotheses: (1) we presume there are significant differences in social desirability regarding self-control between Romanian and Korean subjects; (2) we presume there are significant differences in the Lie Scale regarding responsibility and the level of study of the participants; (3) we presume there are significant differences between self-image management between Romanian and Korean subjects; (4) we presume there are significant differences between social conformism between Romanian and Korean subjects. All hypotheses were confirmed. Results are discussed based on the importance of the cultural factor in human behaviour.

Age Trends in Well-Being and Depressive Symptoms: the Role of Social Desirability.

This study was conducted to determine whether age-related variance in social desirability mediates age trends in psychological health. Self-report measures assessing depressive symptoms, well-being and social desirability were administered to wide age range sample (158 participants aged 20-101years) from Sardinia, an Italian region located in the Mediterranean Sea being characterized by high level of longevity. Binary correlations showed that ageing was significantly correlated with fewer depressive symptoms and greater well-being; social desirability was significantly correlated with fewer depressive symptoms and higher well-being; age and social desirability were positively correlated. Mediation analyses indicated that social desirability explained a significant proportion (7-33%) of age-related variance in perceived well-being and depressive symptomatology. In conclusion, age differences in self-reported depressive symptoms and well-being partially reflect age differences in social desirability. The age-related increase in social desirability may reflect development of an advantageous coping style that contributes to psychological health.

Prejudice against Women Leaders: Insights from an Indirect Questioning Approach

To avoid social disapproval in studies on prejudice against women leaders, participants might provide socially desirable rather than truthful responses. Using the Crosswise Model, an indirect questioning technique that can be applied to control for socially desirable responding, we investigated the prevalence of prejudice against women leaders in a German university community sample of 1529 participants. Prevalence estimates that were based on an indirect question that guaranteed confidentiality of responses were higher than estimates that were based on a direct question. Prejudice against women leaders was thus shown to be more widespread than previously indicated by self-reports that were potentially biased by social desirability. Whereas women showed less prejudice against women leaders, their responses were actually found to be more biased by social desirability, as indicated by a significant interaction between questioning technique and participants’ gender. For men, prejudice estimates increased only slightly from 36% to 45% when an indirect question was used, whereas for women, prejudice estimates almost tripled from 10% to 28%. Whereas women were particularly hesitant to provide negative judgments regarding the qualities of women leaders, prejudice against women leaders was more prevalent among men even when gender differences in social desirability were controlled. Taken together, the results highlight the importance of controlling for socially desirable responding when using self-reports to investigate the prevalence of gender prejudice.

Validity of self-reported conflict handling preferences and the role of self-enhancement

PurposeThis paper aims to assess predictive and convergent validity of a trait measure of conflict handling styles (DUTCH) with two alternative methods of measuring such styles: a vignette measure of behavioral choices (CB-Pref) and behavior in a role-played conflict. In addition, this paper investigates self-enhancement in responses to the two self-report measures.Design/methodology/approachIn Studies 1 (N = 117), 2 (N = 116) and 4 (N = 68), participants completed the DUTCH and CB-Pref. In Study 3 (N = 56 dyads), participants completed the DUTCH and a role-played conflict. In Study 4, participants also responded to the measures as either a typical person or an ideal person would.FindingsThe DUTCH predicted four of five styles individuals chose across nine vignettes of the CB-Pref. In Study 4, the DUTCH predicted three of the five. In Study 3, only the DUTCH’s forcing style predicted actual behavior. In Study 4, participants rated themselves as more constructive and less destructive than typical, but less constructive than ideal. Participants in general were somewhat self-enhancing on both self-report measures, but individual differences in social desirability were generally unrelated to self-report responses.Originality/valueThis work takes a multi-method approach to assessing the validity of a self-report conflict style measure, allowing for the assessment of the measure’s predictive and convergent validity when predicting self-reported style tendencies to style selected in vignettes and behavior in a role-played conflict.

Individual differences in social desirability are associated with white-matter microstructure of the external capsule.

Humans tend to present themselves in a positive light to gain social approval. This behavioral trait, termed social desirability, is important for various types of social success. Surprisingly, investigation into the neural underpinnings of social desirability has been limited and focused only on interindividual differences in dopamine receptor binding. These studies revealed reduced dopamine receptor binding in the striatum of individuals who are high in trait social desirability. Interestingly, high dopamine signaling has been associated with low white-matter integrity, irrespective of social desirability. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that a positive association exists between trait social desirability and the white-matter microstructure of the external capsule, which carries fibers to the striatum from the prefrontal cortex. To test this hypothesis, we collected diffusion tensor imaging data and examined the relationship between fractional anisotropy of the external capsule and participants' social desirability-our analysis revealed a positive association. As a second exploratory step, we examined the association between social desirability and white-matter microstructure throughout the whole brain. Our whole-brain analysis revealed associations within multiple major white-matter tracts, demonstrating that socially desirable behavior relies on connectivity between distributed brain regions.

Cross-cultural differences in social desirability scales: Influence of cognitive ability

Orientation: The use of personality tests for selection and screening has been consistently criticised resulting from the risk of socially desirable responding amongst job applicants. Research purpose: This study examined the magnitude of culture and language group meanscore differences amongst job applicants and the moderating effect of race on the relationship between social desirability and cognitive ability. Motivation for the study: The influence of cognitive ability and potential race and ethnic group differences in social desirability scale scores, which can lead to disproportional selection ratios, has not been extensively researched in South Africa. Research design, approach and method: A quantitative, cross-sectional research design, based on secondary datasets obtained from the test publisher, was employed. The dataset consisted of 1640 job applicants across industry sectors. Main findings: Moderated multiple regression analyses revealed that the relationship between social desirability and general reasoning was moderated by culture and language, with group differences in social desirability being more pronounced at the low general reasoning level. This suggests that social desirability scales may be an ambiguous indicator of faking as the scales may indicate tendency to fake, but not the ability to fake, that is likely to be connected to the level of cognitive ability of the respondent.Practical/managerial implications: Individual differences in social desirability are not fully explained by cognitive ability as cultural differences also played a role. Responding in a certain manner, reflects a level of psychological sophistication that is informed by the level of education and socio-economic status. In relation to selection practice, this study provided evidence of the potentially adverse consequences of using social desirability scales to detect response distortion. Contribution/value-add: The exploration of cross-cultural differences in the application of social desirability scales and the influence of cognitive ability is seen as a major contribution, supported by possible explanations for the differences observed and recommendations regarding the practice of universal corrections and adjustments.

More f#!%ing rudeness: reliable personality predictors of verbal rudeness and other ugly confrontational behaviors

Purpose– The purpose of this research is to (1) to identify personality variables that reliably predict verbal rudeness ( i.e by replicating previous findings) and (2) to investigate what personality variables predict more general ugly confrontational behaviors.Design/methodology/approach– In Study 1, the authors used an online survey to collect information regarding individual differences in social desirability, self-esteem, narcissism, blirtatiousness, behavioral inhibition, behavioral activation, conventional morality (CM), thin-skinned ego defensiveness (TSED), affect intensity for anger and frustration (AIAF), and verbal rudeness. In Study 2, the authors used a similar online survey to collect the same information, but extended the survey questionnaire to include measures of entitlement, psychopathology, Machiavellianism, and a retrospective checklist of ugly confrontational behaviors.Findings– In Study 1, regression analyses revealed that CM, behavioral inhibition, and behavioral activation reward responsiveness were significant negative predictors of rudeness. AIAF, TSED and behavioral activation drive were significant positive predictors of rudeness. In Study 2, regression analyses revealed that CM was again a significant negative predictor of rudeness. AIAF, and narcissism were significant positive predictors of rudeness. CM also negatively predicted ugly confrontational behaviors, whereas AIAF, blirtatiousness, and Machiavellianism were positive predictors.Originality/value– Although several measures of aggression exist, the current studies of rudeness and ugly confrontational behavior specifically assess tendencies to abuse strangers. These studies begin to establish a personality profile of the type of person that might abuse strangers.

Influence of Social Desirability on Age Differences in Self-Reports of Mood and Personality

ABSTRACT Increased age has been found to be associated with differences in affect and personality that have been interpreted in terms of better emotional regulation and increased maturity. However, these findings have largely been based on self-report data, and the primary goal of the current research was to investigate the hypothesis that age-related differences in affect and in certain desirable personality traits might, at least partially, reflect age differences in social desirability. As expected, increased age was associated with lower levels of negative affect and Neuroticism and higher levels of positive affect, life satisfaction, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness, and scores on the social desirability scale were positively related to age and to desirable self-report characteristics but negatively related to undesirable self-report characteristics. Importantly, controlling for the variance in the social desirability measure resulted in less positive age trends in both types of self-report measures.

Social desirability and self-reports: testing models of socially desirable responding.

The present research investigated the cognitive processes involved in responding to self-report items under varying conditions of social desirability. Participants in three experiments judged the extent to which a set of items (personality traits in Experiments 1 and 2; behaviors in Experiment 3) described them under instructions that either increased or decreased concerns with social desirability. Under most conditions, instructions that produced the greatest concern with social desirability resulted in the longest response times. This finding is consistent with the view that social desirability operates as an editing process; participants retrieve the requested information and then evaluate it before responding. There was also some evidence for individual differences in social desirability; participants scoring high on the trait of self-deception were generally faster at making these judgments than were participants scoring low on self-deception.

Childhood Attachment Experience and Adulthood Cognitive Vulnerability: Testing State Dependence and Social Desirability Hypotheses

Childhood attachment experiences correlate with personality and cognitive factors associated with vulnerability to depression. The majority of the research in this area, however, relies on self-report measures which may be influenced by mood state and individual differences in social desirability. The present study examines whether mood and social desirability confound the association between attachment experience and cognitive vulnerability in a sample of clinically depressed adults. Regression analyses revealed a strong link between the two domains that is almost entirely independent of mood state and social desirability. The findings suggest that the association between early interpersonal experience and dysfunctional cognitive processes can not be attributed to current depression or willingness to present oneself in an unfavorable light. Limitations and clinical implications of the results and future directions are discussed.

Socially Desirable Responding and Impression Management in the Endorsement of Love Styles

In 2 experiments, the researcher investigated the social desirability of different love styles (Eros, Ludus, Storge, Pragma, Mania, and Agape). In Experiment 1, the Marlowe-Crowne measure of social desirability (D. P. Crowne & D. Marlowe, 1960) was correlated negatively with possessive, dependent (Mania) love styles in both men and women. In men, social desirability was correlated positively with romantic, passionate love (Eros) and game-playing love (Ludus), but negatively with all-giving, selfless love (Agape). In women, social desirability was correlated positively with Agape, but negatively with Ludus. In Experiment 2, the researcher replicated these findings using an impression management manipulation (good, bad, and honest responding). The gender differences in social desirability of different love styles are explained in terms of traditional and nontraditional gender role socialization.

How confidently can we infer health beliefs from questionnaire responses?

Abstract Recent theoretical and empirical research has challenged the assumption of health psychologists employing social cognitive models that beliefs can confidently be inferred on the basis of questionnaire responses. It is charged that responses to questionnaires are a function of the intelligibility of the items, constructs and theoretical framework to survey participants. To investigate this contention, cognitions specified by Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) were measured with respect to intentions to use a condom and intentions to use dental floss. Three alternative formats of a questionnaire which varied the order of presentation of PMT items were distributed to student samples. Analyses showed that while questionnaire format did not affect the reliability of cognition measures, there was some variation in the significance and strength of correlations between PMT cognitions across formats. Individual differences in social desirability and salience of the target behaviour had small and predictab...

An assessment of the argumentativeness scale for social desirability bias

An investigation of the relationship between the argumentativeness scale and judgments of its social desirability was conducted. Past research indicating that higher argumentativeness scores are associated with males and those with argumentation training is supported. However, when the variance in argumentativeness that can be attributed to social desirability is removed, the difference between the sexes diminishes. Following an item‐by‐item analysis of sex differences in social desirability, it is concluded that sex differences on the argumentativeness scale may be attributable in part to social desirability bias. Future research exploring the relationship of the scale with social desirability is advocated, and implications for the use of the scale are discussed.

Simulating response behavior in sociological survey interviews*

The tenability of the model has been investigated by confronting the simulation outcomes with empirical data of Validity studies’. RESPONSE is a computer model which simulates response behavior of respondents in answering closed questions, posed in survey interviews. RESPONSE can be used to estimate true score distributions from the responses givea The main input variables are the ‘difficulty’ of the question (wording), the saliency of the question topic, the differences in social desirability of the response alternatives which are offered to the respondents, and the degree of ‘suggestiveness’ of the questioa RESPONSE enables sociologists who make use of survey data to assess the amount of bias in their data, and to estimate true score distributions from the obtained responses.

Age Differences in Social Desirability

To examine the differences between 162 adolescents' and 118 adults' scores on the Eysenck Personality Inventory 64 boys (M age = 20 yr.), 94 girls (M age = 18.9 yr.), 78 women (M age = 29 yr.), and 40 men (M age = 28.8 yr.) from Umtata and the vicinity in Transkei, South Africa were tested. Adolescents scored higher on social desirability than adults did.

What I think and feel: A cross-cultural study of anxiety in children

The What I Think and Feel, a measure of anxiety in children, was administered to similar groups of 5th- and 6th-grade children in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. All children expressed similar levels of anxiety, and there were no significant differences attributable to national, grade, or sex differences. On the Lie Scale of the WITF, the three groups of children differed significantly, suggesting that cultural differences in social desirability may exist. Some developmental differences for males and females of these three cultures did occur in both anxiety and social desirability as measured by the Lie Scale.

Resolution of complex decisional conflicts as a function of degree of avoidance

The relationship between difficulty of conflict resolution and degree of avoidance was investigated in three experiments using imaginary conflicts consisting of choosing to have more or less of certain personal characteristics. Double forms of conflict were used to control for complexity of choice. In the first experiment, it was found that double approach-approach conflicts were resolved more quickly than double approach-avoidance which in turn were faster than double avoidance-avoidance. The second experiment showed a similar result using scaled judgments of subjective difficulty. In the third experiment, the basic finding was shown to be independent of situational pressure by permitting an undecided choice. The basic finding was also shown to be independent of individual differences in social desirability.