Individual Difference Moderators Research Articles

Frontoparietal functional connectivity moderates the link between time spent on social media and subsequent negative affect in daily life

Evidence on the harms and benefits of social media use is mixed, in part because the effects of social media on well-being depend on a variety of individual difference moderators. Here, we explored potential neural moderators of the link between time spent on social media and subsequent negative affect. We specifically focused on the strength of correlation among brain regions within the frontoparietal system, previously associated with the top-down cognitive control of attention and emotion. Participants (N = 54) underwent a resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan. Participants then completed 28 days of ecological momentary assessment and answered questions about social media use and negative affect, twice a day. Participants who spent more than their typical amount of time on social media since the previous time point reported feeling more negative at the present moment. This within-person temporal association between social media use and negative affect was mainly driven by individuals with lower resting state functional connectivity within the frontoparietal system. By contrast, time spent on social media did not predict subsequent affect for individuals with higher frontoparietal functional connectivity. Our results highlight the moderating role of individual functional neural connectivity in the relationship between social media and affect.

The effects of descriptive and injunctive social norms on workplace incivility

AbstractThis research examines workplace incivility through the lens of the focus theory of normative conduct, demonstrating effects of descriptive and injunctive norms on incivility perpetration. Using an experimental vignette methodology, Study 1 demonstrated that incivility intentions toward an insulting colleague were higher when organizational incivility (vs. civility) was described as both common (descriptive norm) and approved (injunctive norm). Study 2 disentangled the influences of descriptive from injunctive norms, demonstrating that each exerts an independent effect on incivility intentions. In Study 3, workers' perceptions of the descriptive and injunctive norms for incivility at their organizations predicted their uncivil intentions toward an insulting colleague—beyond the effects of other established workplace mistreatment predictors. Study 4 replicated these findings in predicting uncivil behavior frequency; additionally, job satisfaction accentuated the effects of both norm types and organizational identification amplified the effects of injunctive norms. Overall, results support key tenets of the focus theory of normative conduct, provide novel evidence for individual difference moderators of the norms' effects, and suggest that norm‐based persuasive messaging interventions may hold promise for discouraging workplace incivility.

Forming meaningful connections between strangers in virtual reality: Comparing affiliative outcomes by interaction modality.

At present the extent to which close, meaningful connections can be formed in virtual reality (VR) between strangers is unknown, as is how the development of such connections compares to those formed in other established communication modalities. The present preregistered experiment examined the induction of closeness in VR using a validated social interaction task and how it compares with such induction in other interaction modalities with respect to affiliative outcomes (e.g., closeness toward and perceived responsiveness of interaction partner). Based on previous theory and research, we hypothesized that affiliative outcomes would be higher in interaction modalities featuring more versus less sensory input but would not differ significantly between the most sensory-rich modalities (video and VR). Two hundred seventy-two previously unacquainted undergraduate students were randomly assigned to interact with a partner (forming 136 dyads) using the “fast friends” procedure () via either text, audio chat, video chat, or VR. Results were consistent with hypotheses, suggesting that closeness and related outcomes can be generated and experienced in VR akin to levels experienced via other sensory-rich computer-mediated modalities. Exploratory analyses of possible individual difference moderator variables (Big Five personality dimensions and attachment orientations) yielded largely nonsignificant findings, suggesting the robustness of the obtained findings across individual differences.

Supplemental Material for Forming meaningful connections between strangers in virtual reality: Comparing affiliative outcomes by interaction modality.

At present the extent to which close, meaningful connections can be formed in virtual reality (VR) between strangers is unknown, as is how the development of such connections compares to those formed in other established communication modalities. The present preregistered experiment examined the induction of closeness in VR using a validated social interaction task and how it compares with such induction in other interaction modalities with respect to affiliative outcomes (e.g., closeness toward and perceived responsiveness of interaction partner). Based on previous theory and research, we hypothesized that affiliative outcomes would be higher in interaction modalities featuring more versus less sensory input but would not differ significantly between the most sensory-rich modalities (video and VR). Two hundred seventy-two previously unacquainted undergraduate students were randomly assigned to interact with a partner (forming 136 dyads) using the “fast friends” procedure () via either text, audio chat, video chat, or VR. Results were consistent with hypotheses, suggesting that closeness and related outcomes can be generated and experienced in VR akin to levels experienced via other sensory-rich computer-mediated modalities. Exploratory analyses of possible individual difference moderator variables (Big Five personality dimensions and attachment orientations) yielded largely nonsignificant findings, suggesting the robustness of the obtained findings across individual differences.

Predicting and Changing Attitudes toward Same-Gender Parenting: Informational Influence, Parasocial Contact, and Religious Fundamentalism

Attitudes toward same-gender parenting are of timely relevance, given increasing recognition of LGBTQ+ rights around the world. Two studies examined the influence of 2 predictors of attitudes toward same-gender parenting. The first was informational influence, which was manipulated via a newspaper-style article dispelling misconceptions about gender identity of children reared by same-gender parents. The second was social influence via parasocial contact measured as prior exposure to a same-gender adoptive parents TV show. Religious fundamentalism (RF) was assessed as an individual difference moderator of informational or social influence. Outcome variables were beliefs about same-gender parenting, perceived problems with same-gender parenting, and social distance from same-gender adoptive parents. We studied these relationships in Canada (Study 1, where same-gender couples’ adoption is legal) and in Italy (Study 2, where same-gender couples’ adoption is not legal). RF moderated the results of informational and social influence in the Canadian context, such that those high in RF tended to be favorably influenced. In Italy, results of informational influence were typically observed among those low in RF, and social influence directly predicted favorable attitudes toward same-gender parenting. Informational and social influence can improve attitudes toward same-gender parenting, but RF and legal/cultural context are also important to consider.

When Does Being Watched Change Pro-Environmental Behaviors in the Laboratory?

Pro-environmental behaviors such as conserving water, reducing flights, or purchasing energy-efficient appliances are subject to social pressures. The influence of norms on behavior is widely studied, but it is less clear which social identities (e.g., political ideology; being an environmentalist) and contextual factors lead individuals to pursue or avoid pro-environmental behaviors. The visibility of behaviors—whether an action can be observed by others—has attracted wide research attention in psychology, business, and economics for theoretical and practical reasons. This paper includes three experiments on visibility, total N = 735 (U.S. university students). There were no effects of visibility on “green” purchases, donation to a conservation organization, or willingness to sign up for a water-reducing student meal plan; these null effects are consistent with a recent Registered Report. Additional predictors are also modeled, such as Openness and the need for status. It remains likely that being observed by certain audiences will affect certain pro-environmental behaviors in certain contexts. The discussion centers on methodological and conceptual issues contributing to null effects and to how future research can usefully explore individual difference moderators, type of audience, and types of pro-environmental behavior that influence when visibility might change conservation behaviors.

Are Big Five Traits and Facets Associated With Anchoring Susceptibility?

Anchoring, the assimilation of judgments to previously considered values, is one of the most robust findings in psychology, and researchers have been increasingly interested in finding individual difference moderators of anchoring effects. Several investigations have examined the relation between Big Five traits and anchoring susceptibility, but previous studies have produced a confusing and contradictory pattern of results. We identify limitations of previous work and report a large preregistered study (N = 945) to test whether Big Five traits and facets relate to anchoring. We find no significant relations between any traits or facets and anchoring susceptibility. We discuss the implications of our results and future directions for research on individual differences in anchoring susceptibility.

The greatest battle is within ourselves: An experiment on the effects of competition alone on task performance

Abstract Purpose of Research In the gamification literature, the causal effects of multiple game elements are typically confounded, but in this study, we tested the causal effects of the competition game element alone on brainstorming, a classic experimental context for studying human task performance. We furthermore explored intrinsic motivation as a motivational mediator and trait competitiveness as an individual difference moderator of the effect of competition on brainstorming performance. Principal Results Adding competition to a brainstorming task improved both the creativity (d = 0.371) and quantity (7.72 additional ideas; d = 0.563) of brainstorming in comparison to a control group. Trait competitiveness did not moderate this relationship, such that a person's competitiveness did not change the effectiveness of competition. Intrinsic motivation also did not mediate the relationship between the game element and performance. Major Conclusions Competition, even implemented as the sole game element in gamification, can improve human performance. This effect in this study did not depend upon a population containing highly competitive performers. Furthermore, we argue that the primary motivational effect of competition must have either occurred via an unconscious influence (i.e., increasing amotivation) or by impliticly creating extrinsic rewards for increased effort.

Cultural Model of Information Technology Usage (CMITU)

Abstract
 
 Since usage is a necessary condition for deriving benefit from information technology and the use by the end users is not guaranteed, one of the main streams of research in the field is the explanation of acceptance and use. Increasingly, it appears that researchers are shifting focus from Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The main contribution of the UTAUT to the TAM was the addition of demographic variables (such as age, gender, and experience with IT) and situational variable (voluntariness) as the main moderators of beliefs on technology usage. This paper extends this line of research beyond these moderator variables. Given recent trends in the globalization of business and the prominence of multinational team members, managers in multinational companies are now confronted with the need for increasing usage of information technology from a workforce comprised of different cultures. Furthermore, without understanding the role of cultural values in IT usage, it could be hard for developers to design and guide systems development in ways that are appropriate in different cultures. Since individuals are conditioned by their culture and the suggestion form prior research that UTAUT model do not universally hold across cultures, this paper extends the UTAUT model by espousing national cultural values as an important set of individual difference moderators. These espoused national cultural values of masculinity/femininity, individualism/collectivism, power distance and uncertainty avoidance are incorporated into an extended model of UTAUT as moderators. At this stage, the model was constructed and will be explained in this paper. The future work is the validation of the model in which a cross-sectional survey will be conducted in two countries varying in term of culture according to Hofstede’s cultural dimensions’ indexes. The findings may provide a useful lens for the successful implement of information technology in multinational and transnational organizations.
 Keywords: Information Technology, user’s acceptance, use of information technology, national culture, cultural change.

Relating Age, Decision Authority, Job Satisfaction, and Mental Health: A Study of Construction Workers

Job autonomy is a critical job characteristic in the construction industry, with lower levels of autonomy compared to the general working population. Moreover, there is a paucity of work on individual difference moderators, such as age, considering the effect of job autonomy in important outcomes, such as job satisfaction and mental health. The purpose of the present study was to test a model of moderated-mediation, in which the interaction between decision authority (i.e., a type of autonomy) and age affects job satisfaction, which in turn affects mental health. The model tested is significant, and as expected, decision authority increased the satisfaction of older construction workers more than their younger colleagues, which in turn increased their mental health. We discuss our results in terms of selective optimization and compensation theory and implications for organizational practices.

Mnemic neglect: Selective amnesia of one’s faults

ABSTRACTThe mnemic neglect model predicts and accounts for selective memory for social feedback as a function of various feedback properties. At the heart of the model is the mnemic neglect effect (MNE), defined as inferior recall for self-threatening feedback compared to other kinds of feedback. The effect emerges both in mundane realism and minimal feedback settings. The effect is presumed to occur in the service of self-protection motivation. Mnemic neglect is pronounced when the feedback poses high levels of self-threat (i.e., can detect accurately one’s weakness), but is lost when self-threat is averted via a self-affirmation manipulation. Mnemic neglect is caused by self-threatening feedback being processed shallowly and in ways that separate it from stored (positive) self-knowledge. The emergence of mnemic neglect is qualified by situational moderators (extent to which one considers their self-conceptions modifiable, receives feedback from a close source, or is primed with improvement-related constructs) and individual differences moderators (anxiety, dysphoria, or defensive pessimism). Finally, the MNE is present in recall, but absent in recognition. Output interference cannot explain this disparity in results, but an inhibitory repression account (e.g., experiential avoidance) can: Repressors show enhanced mnemic neglect. The findings advance research on memory, motivation, and the self.

The Effects of National Culture Values on Consumer Acceptance of E-commerce: Online Shoppers in Russia

This study investigated the influence of national culture on the consumer acceptance of e-commerce in Russia. This study suggests that behavioral patterns are not universally held in different cultures, the facts define national cultural values as an important set of individual difference moderators in the adoption of technology. Hofstede's cultural dimensions, power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, and long-term orientation were taken as moderators. These cultural aspects of masculinity/femininity, individualism/collectivism, power distance, and uncertainty avoidance were included as moderators in an extended model of technology acceptance. Our model of consumer acceptance of e-commerce has considered the impact of culture on the perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, trust and intention to use.

Gamification of task performance with leaderboards: A goal setting experiment

The use of leaderboards is a common approach to the gamification of employee performance, but little is known about the specific mechanisms and mediating processes by which leaderboards actually affect employee behavior. Given the lack of research in this domain, this study proposes goal-setting theory, one of the most well-established motivational theories in psychology, as a framework by which to understand these effects. In this study, a classic brainstorming task is gamified with a leaderboard in order to explore this. Participants were randomly assigned to four classic levels of goal-setting (do-your-best, easy, difficult and impossible goals) plus a leaderboard populated with initials and scores representing identical goal-setting conditions. The presence of a leaderboard was successful in motivating participants to performance levels similar to that of difficult and impossible goal-setting, suggesting participants implicitly set goals at or near the top of the leaderboard without any prompting to do so. Goal commitment, a common individual difference moderator in goal-setting theory, was also assessed and behaved similarly in the presence of the leaderboard as when traditional goals were provided. From these results, we conclude that goal-setting theory is valuable to understand the success of leaderboards, and we recommend further exploration of existing psychological theories, including goal-setting, to better explain the effects of gamification.

Dialectical thinking moderates the effect of extrinsic motivation on intrinsic motivation

The present research tested the individual difference variable of dialectical thinking style (DT) as a moderator of the relationship between extrinsic motivation and intrinsic motivation, in situations where rewards have been introduced for an initially enjoyable activity. In Study 1, participants were asked to imagine gaining rewards for doing an enjoyable activity and in Study 2, participants were given real rewards for doing an enjoyable activity, after which subsequent extrinsic motivation and intrinsic motivation were rated. Both studies revealed a significant interaction effect of DT and self-reported extrinsic motivation in relation to subsequent self-reported intrinsic motivation. The results of Study 3 replicated the general pattern again, using cultural membership (China vs. the U.S.) as a stand-in for DT. Findings indicate that DT mitigates the detrimental effects of extrinsic motivation on intrinsic motivation, identifying an important new individual difference moderator of the “undermining effect” of extrinsic motivation on intrinsic motivation.

(209) Sleep and pain in fibromyalgia: an assessment of the daily relationship and individual difference moderators

(209) Sleep and pain in fibromyalgia: an assessment of the daily relationship and individual difference moderators

The effects of repeated exposure to graphic fear appeals on cigarette packages: A field experiment.

Experimental studies on the effects of graphic fear appeals on cigarette packages typically expose smokers in a single session to a fear appeal, although in practice the exposure is always repeated. The present study applied an improved study design with repeated exposure to fear appeals on cigarette packages. In this field-experiment, 118 smokers were assigned to 1 of 2 conditions with either graphic fear appeals or textual warnings on their cigarette packages. During 3 weeks, fear and disgust were assessed 6 times. The intention to quit smoking after 3 weeks and quitting activity during the 3 weeks were the dependent measures. The effects of 3 pretest individual difference moderators were tested: disengagement beliefs, number of cigarettes smoked a day, and readiness to quit. Three weeks of exposure to the graphic fear appeals led to a stronger intention to quit, but only when smokers scored low on disengagement beliefs, or were heavier smokers. In addition, smokers low in disengagement more often reported to have cut down on smoking in the graphic condition. There were no indications of habituation of fear and disgust over the 3 weeks. The effects of graphic fear appeals depended on smokers' characteristics: The moderators may explain the mixed findings in the literature. The lack of habituation may be caused by the renewal of the graphics every few days. The used field-experimental design with natural repeated exposure to graphics is promising.

Who benefits from more tasks? Older versus younger workers

Purpose– Although a substantial body of research has examined the effects of job characteristics on job attitudes, there is a paucity of work on individual difference moderators of these relationships. Based in selective optimization with compensation theory and socio-emotional selectivity theory, the purpose of this paper is to show that age moderated the relationship between task variety and two key job attitudes, job satisfaction and engagement.Design/methodology/approach– Data were collected through self-report questionnaires (n=152), using a time-lagged design with two waves (two to three weeks betweenT1andT2).Findings– The authors found that task variety had a stronger relationship with job satisfaction and work engagement for younger workers compared to older workers.Research limitations/implications– Although there was good age variance in the sample, it had fewer late-career workers and more workers who are in their early and mid-career.Practical implications– To have workers of all ages satisfied and engaged at work, we need to understand which work characteristics are the best for them. For example, it may be a competitive gain for organizations to challenge younger workers with different tasks, and to challenge older workers in ways that utilize their experience.Social implications– The study addresses a societal issue related to profound demographic changes in the age composition of the workforce, gaining a better knowledge of differences between workers of different ages to promote effective interventions and policies.Originality/value– This is the first study to show that task variety differentially affects worker satisfaction and engagement depending on the age of the worker.

We boil at different degrees: The role of need for structure on the effect of other-blame core-relational theme on anger

Appraisal theories were developed in part to explain individual differences in emotional reactions. However, there remains little research on whether the effect of core-relational theme (CRT), which reflects the combined meanings of several appraisals, on emotion is stable or varies across individuals, and which individual difference variable can explain such cross-individual variation. The present paper fills this gap by investigating the variability of the effect of other-blame on reported anger with need for structure as moderator. Results revealed that the effect of other-blame on anger was stronger for individuals high (vs. low) in need for structure. These findings contribute to appraisal research by providing clear evidence of an important individual difference moderator of CRT–emotion relationship.

Alcohol dose effects on stress response to cued threat vary by threat intensity

Clarification of alcohol's effect on stress response during threat is critical to understand motivation for alcohol use and related alcohol-use disorders. Evaluation of stress response dampening (SRD) effects of alcohol has been limited by nonsystematic use of varied experimental methods and measures. This experiment parametrically varied alcohol dose and shock threat intensity among social drinkers to examine their effects on startle potentiation, a physiological measure of the affective component of the stress response. Ninety-six participants were assigned to one of four beverage groups: placebo and target blood alcohol concentration (BAC) groups of 0.04%, 0.075%, and 0.11%. Participants viewed colored cues presented in shock and no-shock blocks. Distinct colored cues predicted imminent low, moderate, or high intensity electric shock administration. Startle potentiation during shock threat relative to no-shock cues indexed affective response. High threat increased startle potentiation relative to moderate/low intensity threat. Startle potentiation decreased as BAC increased. Threat intensity moderated this BAC effect with the strongest BAC effect observed during high threat. Analysis of individual difference moderators revealed reduced effect of BAC among heavier, more problematic drinkers. Clear alcohol SRD effects were observed. These SRD effects were greatest at higher BACs and during more potent threat. Failure to account for these factors may partially explain inconsistent findings in past laboratory SRD research. Furthermore, they suggest greater reinforcement from alcohol at higher doses and among individuals with greater stress. Moderation of SRD effects by alcohol consumption and problems point to possible important risk factors.

When social accounts promote acceptance of unfair ultimatum offers: The role of the victim’s stress responses to uncertainty and power position

We examined which type of social account (denying responsibility versus apologizing) following an unfair offer makes recipients more likely to accept the offer in ultimatum bargaining. We identified stress responses to uncertainty as an individual difference factor that should moderate the relative effectiveness of these social accounts. A denial should make acceptance of an unfair offer more likely among recipients who respond to uncertainty with low stress. An apology should make such acceptance more likely among recipients who respond with high stress. Further, we argued that this cross-over interaction should be observed particularly among recipients interacting with a high power allocator. Two ultimatum bargaining experiments supported these ideas. Employing the perspective of victims of unfairness, the present research identifies a relevant individual difference moderator of the effectiveness of social accounts in bargaining situations and identifies power as a situational variable that promotes the expression of this factor.