Perceptions Of Approval Research Articles

Will others approve? Effects of an injunctive norms intervention on intentions to use protective behavioral strategies during drinking games

Background Playing drinking games is associated with increased alcohol consumption and negative consequences. Using protective behavioral strategies while playing drinking games (e.g. alternating alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks) may reduce consumption and consequences. We hypothesized that an injunctive norms intervention, conveying peer approval for using protective strategies during drinking games, would increase perceptions of approval for strategy use, and in turn, intentions to use protective strategies. We also expected intervention effects to be stronger for women and students who endorse social lubrication motives for playing games. Method In all, 133 college students who had ever played drinking games reported gender and social motives for playing drinking games and were randomized to the intervention or assessment only control. Perceived injunctive norms for and intentions to use protective strategies during drinking games were assessed post-intervention. Results Relative to control participants, intervention recipients reported greater intentions to use protective strategies during drinking games; this effect was mediated by heightened injunctive norms in the intervention group. Intervention effects did not depend on gender or social motives. Conclusions Building on these promising findings, research is needed on whether injunctive norms interventions translate into actual use of protective strategies while playing drinking games.

Psychological predictors of public acceptance for urban stormwater reuse

Urban residents are becoming more aware of water scarcity issues and paying greater attention to their total water consumption. Simultaneously, perceptions of what is considered drinkable water are also evolving. The present study examines whether attitudinal evaluations of stormwater influence the public acceptance of stormwater that is treated and sourced through managed aquifer recharge (MAR). It was hypothesised that treated stormwater used for non-potable purposes would be more acceptable amongst participants, and that select psychological factors (perceptions, values and norms) would be significant predictors of public acceptance for MAR. Participants (N = 408) took part in an online survey which measured public acceptance of stormwater, social norms, stormwater attitudes, water beliefs and water conservation culture. These factors were experimentally examined across two different types of water use: “drinking water” or “non-drinking water”. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that stormwater end use and selected psychological factors accounted for 79% of variance in acceptance of stormwater. While there was significantly higher acceptance for the use of MAR for non-drinking purposes overall, ‘end use’ was a weak predictor of public acceptance for MAR. The most important predictors of acceptance were social norms and value-driven attitudes towards stormwater. Results showed that perceptions of approval from important others (e.g. family and friends) and personal moral values were influential in explaining acceptance for stormwater. Interestingly, water conservation culture was a negative predictor of acceptance, where people who believed that conserving water was part of the Australian lifestyle tended to have lower acceptance for a supplemental stormwater supply. These people were more likely to support initiatives encouraging conservation of water use as key to managing water supplies. The findings articulate the need to consider existing public attitudes and norms within communities where alternative resources are proposed, to inform policy and practice.

Preference for dating out-group members: Not the same for all out-groups and cultural backgrounds

The goal of the present study was to examine dating preferences across three different out-group backgrounds (race/culture/ethnic, religious, socio-economic status) in three different cultural settings (the United Kingdom, the United States, India). A second goal was to explore the role of social psychological factors (social approval, social identity, previous dating experience) in out-group dating preferences. Findings from an online study (nUK = 227, nUS = 245, nIndia = 220) revealed that participants were less willing to date individuals from religious out-groups than individuals from other race/culture/ethnic or socio-economic status out-groups. Individuals’ perceptions of approval from friends and family positively predicted out-group dating preference for all backgrounds and samples. How much individuals identified with their in-groups and whether they have previous experience dating someone from an out-group varied across outgroup backgrounds and samples in predicting out-group dating preferences. Together, the findings provide valuable insight into intergroup relations and reveal the importance of studying out-group dating preferences across different out-group backgrounds and samples.

Defending girlfriends, buddies and oneself: Injunctive norms and male barroom aggression

Objective Research has demonstrated that young adults tend to overestimate their peers' approval of risky behaviors (i.e., injunctive norms) and that perceived peer approval is associated with actual behavior; however, no empirical studies have assessed injunctive norms in relation to male barroom aggression. The objectives of the present study were to compare young men's own approval of male barroom aggression with their perceptions of approval by male and female peers and to determine the extent that perceived peer approval of male barroom aggression was associated with self-reported physical aggression at a bar, controlling for own approval and heavy episodic drinking. Method 525 young adult male university and community college students who reported drinking and going to a bar, club or pub rated their own approval and perceptions of peers' approval of bar aggression on items reflecting four domains of approval: (1) general approval, (2) defend self, (3) defend friend and (4) protect girlfriend. Results For all four domains, participants attributed greater approval to male peers than to themselves. Aggression was positively associated with own approval for all domains and with perceived male peer approval for general approval, defend self and defend friend, controlling for heavy episodic drinking and own approval of aggression. Perceived approval by female peers was not associated with increased likelihood of aggression. Conclusion The findings suggest that both perceived male peer approval and personal approval are factors associated with male barroom aggression and that addressing approval of barroom aggression is a critical direction for prevention programming.

Family approval as a constraint in dependency regulation: Evidence from Australia and Indonesia

AbstractMurray and colleagues’ dependency regulation model suggests that individuals in romantic relationships permit themselves to be emotionally dependent on a romantic partner only when they are certain they are valued by their partners. We argue that in cultures where family has a role in mate selection, family approval of the relationship provides an additional constraint on emotional dependence. Reports of relationship perceptions were collected from Australian and Indonesian individuals in dating relationships. The traditional dependency regulation model was affirmed for the Australian sample, but regulation of emotional dependence was best accounted for by both feelings of security in a partner’s affections and perceptions of approval from the partner’s family for the Indonesian sample.

No Couple Is an Island: A Social Network Perspective on Dyadic Stability

Social networks have a relatively large and multifaceted effect on the stability of intimate relationships, based on proportional hazard analysis involving 290 individuals. Perceptions of approval from a respondent's friends and approval from a partners family increase relationship stability. On the other hand, perceived approval from a respondent's family, overall encouragement to date, and closeness to a best friend decrease stability in the multivariate model Perceptions of social approval are better at predicting stability than actual approval. The effects of social networks occur even after controlling for the significant effects of dyadic variables such as the perceived existence of alternatives, closeness to the partner, and arguing. Findings confirm the positive and negative roles of social ties and support the argument that friendships can compete with romantic relationships for companionship.

Evaluating the Nature of Perceived Support and its Relation to Perceived Self-Worth in Adolescents

The purpose of this study was to increase our understanding of the relation between adolescents' perceptions of global self-worth and their perceptions of different types of social support (approval, emotional support, and instrumental aid) from significant others. The results suggest that the distinction between the three different types of perceived support appears to be meaningful and that the types of support differ in their relation with self-worth. Perceptions of approval from others, especially a generalized other peer-reference group, such as classmates, did bear a stronger relation to self-worth than did perceptions of emotional support or instrumental aid. There was no consistent gender difference in the relation between perceived support and self-worth, although several gender differences in the levels of perceived support were found. The findings also acknowledged the importance of parental as well as peer support throughout adolescence.