Objective: Many un-partnered women report difficulty in forming romantic relationships after brea... more Objective: Many un-partnered women report difficulty in forming romantic relationships after breast cancer, characterized by high dating-related anxiety and low perceived interpersonal competence. This study examined the relationship between poor body image (appearance investment and body dissatisfaction) and self-compassion, and women's ability to form romantic relationships post-breast cancer. Methods: Women (N=152) diagnosed with breast cancer, who were either un-partnered and expressed interest in romantic dating, or who had commenced a relationship post-diagnosis, completed an online survey. Assessments included the Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire, Dating Anxiety Scale, Self-compassion Scale, Appearance Schemas Inventory-Revised, Body Image Scale, and Experiences in Close Relationships Scale. Multiple regression analyses assessed the relationships between these variables. Results: Partnered and un-partnered women differed in levels of dating anxiety, interpersonal competence, anxious attachment and the self-evaluative salience facet of appearance investment. Analyses revealed a significant model for dating anxiety, with high self-evaluative salience, body image dissatisfaction, and attachment avoidance independently associated with this outcome. The model for interpersonal competence was also significant, with low attachment avoidance and high self-compassion independently associated with this outcome. Conclusions: Un-partnered women who place high importance on appearance for their selfworth, and who report poor body image and low self-compassion are at risk of experiencing difficulties in forming new romantic relationships after breast cancer. Future interventions should target these variables to facilitate romantic dating during cancer survivorship.
Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, Feb 1, 2023
Introduction: This study compared the Trust Promotes Adjustment (TPA) approach with the Centralis... more Introduction: This study compared the Trust Promotes Adjustment (TPA) approach with the Centralist Approach to Trust (CAT) regarding the relationship between trust beliefs in others and psychosocial adjustment. The TPA predicted linear, whereas the CAT predicted quadratic, relationships between the two. The predictions were tested by analyses for the curvilinearity of data gathered by Teunisse et al. (2020). Method: Six hundred and fifty-one adults (M age = 24.9 years, SD = 10.4 years) completed standardized scales of trust beliefs in others, agreeableness, and social intelligence. Results: In support of TPA, trust beliefs in others were linearly associated with social awareness. In support of CAT, quadratic relations were found between trust beliefs in others and both agreeableness and social skills. Individuals with very low or very high trust beliefs showed lower agreeableness and social skills than those with the midrange of trust beliefs or the linear relationship between the variables. Individuals showed optimal psychosocial adjustment when trust beliefs were between 1.5 standard deviations above and below the mean. Discussion: These findings challenge the traditional TPA, which asserts that increasing trust in others corresponds to increasing psychosocial adjustment. The findings support the CAT hypothesis that too little or too much trust in others is associated with psychosocial maladjustment with implications for psychopathology.
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Jun 28, 2019
In 2017, financial and romantic scams cost consumers in the United States more than US$1.42 billi... more In 2017, financial and romantic scams cost consumers in the United States more than US$1.42 billion, with more than 300,000 complaints made (Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center, 2017). Fischer, Lea, and Evans (2013) argued that, rather than simply resulting from situational variables such as loneliness, some people may have an enduring personality trait that makes them more likely to become scam victims. Given the enormous financial and emotional costs of scams, researchers need to better understand this personality trait, with a view to assisting vulnerable individuals resist exploitation. Although research on the construct of gullibility per se has been sparse (e.g.
Journal of Applied Social Psychology, Feb 17, 2017
This study is the first attempt to investigate men's and women's anticipated reactions to a consu... more This study is the first attempt to investigate men's and women's anticipated reactions to a consultation with a doctor holding either a dehumanizing or humanistic approach to patient treatment. Participants (N 5 375) read a vignette depicting a doctor's treatment philosophy-emphasizing either the metaphor of the body as a machine (dehumanizing condition) or emphasizing individual humanness (humanizing condition). They then imagined consulting the doctor about a psychological or physical illness. Although, medical dehumanization had undesirable consequences, some men rated the dehumanizing doctor as more competent than the humanizing doctor. These were men who were (a) emotionally expressive and seeking help for a psychological illness, and (b) men low in emotional expressiveness seeking help for a physical illness. 1 | INTRODUCTION Dehumanization refers to the denial of a person's humanness (see Haslam, 2006, for a review). Specifically, a person can be denied their uniquely human (UH) attributes such as rationality, refinement, and civility when they are viewed as childlike or animalistic. Alternatively, a person can be denied their human nature attributes, including emotional responsiveness, agency, and interpersonal warmth, when they are viewed as an object or machine (Haslam, 2006). Of the two forms of humanness described by Haslam (2006), denial of human nature characteristics (mechanistic dehumanization) plays a potentially important role within the medical context, where doctors are encouraged to interpret illness dispassionately and objectively, and to view patients as mechanical systems with interacting parts (Haque & Waytz, 2012; Kriel, 1988). According to this view, disease may be explained as a malfunctioning of the machine. Whilst there has been some suggestion that dehumanization might have the benefit of freeing up the clinician's cognitive resources for problem solving (Haque & Waytz, 2012; see also Cheng et al., 2007; Decety, Yang, & Cheng, 2010), dehumanization of patients has also been posited to be indicative of clinician burnout (Maslach & Goldberg, 1998). In terms of the patient's perspective, however, the literature is clear that the experience of dehumanization is overwhelmingly negative, and is associated with dissatisfaction, fear, and less compliance (e.g., Gaillard, Shattell, & Thomas, 2009; Kralik, Kock, & Wotton, 1997). Furthermore, patients who experience an adverse medical event might be more likely to pursue malpractice claims if the treating physician does not display positive communication behaviors such as friendliness, clear communication, personal interest, and emotional support (Moore, Adler, & Robertson, 2000). A patient's relationship with their doctor is unique and highly valued, requiring trust and the frequent disclosure of intimate information. Thus, for effective treatment outcomes to ensue, it has been argued that patients need to feel cared for as well as cared about (Borbasi, Gal
It is presently unknown whether inspiration extends across different domains: can a salesperson, ... more It is presently unknown whether inspiration extends across different domains: can a salesperson, for example, be inspired by a successful athlete? The present study investigated whether inspirational content must be relevant to a subsequent task to improve performance. Participants (N 5 70) wrote about a time they felt inspired in a sporting context (domain-relevant), creative con
This study examined spontaneous and forced choice elicitations of emotion within the context of h... more This study examined spontaneous and forced choice elicitations of emotion within the context of happy and unhappy dating relationships. Seventy-one subjects (35 men and 36 women> in long term relationships were given 20 hypothetical relationship behaviours, 10 positive and 10 negative. Five behavioural events in each set of 10 were self-initiated and five were partner-initiated. Subjects imagined each behaviour occurring and tape recorded their subsequent thoughts and feelings. Subjects then chose one of 16 emotion categories, derived from Roseman’s (1984) cognitive model of emotion, that best described their feeling about the event. They also indicated how much control they perceived they and their partners had over the event. Emotional expressions from the verbal protocols were coded into the same set of 16 categories, and these spontaneous and forced choice measures achieved strong convergent validity. Results showed patterns of elicited emotions varied significantly depending on behaviour valency and, to a lesser degree, the initiator of the behaviour. Specific hypotheses derived from Roseman’s model relating particular emotional responses to relationship happiness were net supported. Theoretical and methodological implications are discussed
Previous studies have documented links between sub-clinical narcissism and the active pursuit of ... more Previous studies have documented links between sub-clinical narcissism and the active pursuit of short-term mating strategies (e.g., unrestricted sociosexuality, marital infidelity, mate poaching). Nearly all of these investigations have relied solely on samples from Western cultures. In the current study, responses from a cross-cultural survey of 30,470 people across 53 nations spanning 11 world regions (North America, Central/South America, Northern Europe, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Middle East, Africa, Oceania, Southeast Asia, and East Asia) were used to evaluate whether narcissism (as measured by the Narcissistic Personality Inventory; NPI) was universally associated with short-term mating. Results revealed narcissism scores (including two broad factors and seven traditional facets as measured by the NPI) were functionally equivalent across cultures, reliably associating with key sexual outcomes (e.g., more active pursuit of short-term mating, intimate par...
This article describes the development and refinement of the Annandale Emotional Signature Scale;... more This article describes the development and refinement of the Annandale Emotional Signature Scale; a measure that was subsequently employed as part of a battery of tests to explore the validity of the constructs of abandonment and annihilation. The Annandale Emotional Signature Scale (AESS) was first developed and administered to undergraduate psychology students, followed by a group of practitioners who were aware of the abandonment and annihilation dimensions. Based on the results with these sample populations, the AESS scale was modified and administered to a clinical population. From these studies with three different samples, two highly reliable factors emerged from the AESS. The Abandon factor comprises items describing feelings of inadequacy, self-critical thinking, and pleasing behaviours that indicate anxiety and worry about over-responsibility and rejection by others. The Annihilate factor comprises items describing adverse and traumatic events from the past, as opposed to ...
Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland), Jan 20, 2018
The role of emotions in adult learning and achievement has received increasing attention in recen... more The role of emotions in adult learning and achievement has received increasing attention in recent years. However, much of the emphasis has been on test anxiety, rather than the wider spectrum of negative emotions such as sadness, grief, boredom and anger. This paper reports findings of a qualitative study exploring the experience and functionality of negative emotions at university. Thirty-six academic staff and students from an Australian university were interviewed about emotional responses to a range of learning events. Data analysis was informed by a prototype approach to emotion research. Four categories of discrete negative emotions (anger, sadness, fear, boredom) were considered by teachers and students to be especially salient in learning, with self-conscious emotions (guilt, embarrassment, shame) mentioned by more students than staff. While negative emotions were frequently viewed as detrimental to motivation, performance and learning, they were also construed under some c...
Objective: Many un-partnered women report difficulty in forming romantic relationships after brea... more Objective: Many un-partnered women report difficulty in forming romantic relationships after breast cancer, characterized by high dating-related anxiety and low perceived interpersonal competence. This study examined the relationship between poor body image (appearance investment and body dissatisfaction) and self-compassion, and women's ability to form romantic relationships post-breast cancer. Methods: Women (N=152) diagnosed with breast cancer, who were either un-partnered and expressed interest in romantic dating, or who had commenced a relationship post-diagnosis, completed an online survey. Assessments included the Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire, Dating Anxiety Scale, Self-compassion Scale, Appearance Schemas Inventory-Revised, Body Image Scale, and Experiences in Close Relationships Scale. Multiple regression analyses assessed the relationships between these variables. Results: Partnered and un-partnered women differed in levels of dating anxiety, interpersonal competence, anxious attachment and the self-evaluative salience facet of appearance investment. Analyses revealed a significant model for dating anxiety, with high self-evaluative salience, body image dissatisfaction, and attachment avoidance independently associated with this outcome. The model for interpersonal competence was also significant, with low attachment avoidance and high self-compassion independently associated with this outcome. Conclusions: Un-partnered women who place high importance on appearance for their selfworth, and who report poor body image and low self-compassion are at risk of experiencing difficulties in forming new romantic relationships after breast cancer. Future interventions should target these variables to facilitate romantic dating during cancer survivorship.
Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, Feb 1, 2023
Introduction: This study compared the Trust Promotes Adjustment (TPA) approach with the Centralis... more Introduction: This study compared the Trust Promotes Adjustment (TPA) approach with the Centralist Approach to Trust (CAT) regarding the relationship between trust beliefs in others and psychosocial adjustment. The TPA predicted linear, whereas the CAT predicted quadratic, relationships between the two. The predictions were tested by analyses for the curvilinearity of data gathered by Teunisse et al. (2020). Method: Six hundred and fifty-one adults (M age = 24.9 years, SD = 10.4 years) completed standardized scales of trust beliefs in others, agreeableness, and social intelligence. Results: In support of TPA, trust beliefs in others were linearly associated with social awareness. In support of CAT, quadratic relations were found between trust beliefs in others and both agreeableness and social skills. Individuals with very low or very high trust beliefs showed lower agreeableness and social skills than those with the midrange of trust beliefs or the linear relationship between the variables. Individuals showed optimal psychosocial adjustment when trust beliefs were between 1.5 standard deviations above and below the mean. Discussion: These findings challenge the traditional TPA, which asserts that increasing trust in others corresponds to increasing psychosocial adjustment. The findings support the CAT hypothesis that too little or too much trust in others is associated with psychosocial maladjustment with implications for psychopathology.
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Jun 28, 2019
In 2017, financial and romantic scams cost consumers in the United States more than US$1.42 billi... more In 2017, financial and romantic scams cost consumers in the United States more than US$1.42 billion, with more than 300,000 complaints made (Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center, 2017). Fischer, Lea, and Evans (2013) argued that, rather than simply resulting from situational variables such as loneliness, some people may have an enduring personality trait that makes them more likely to become scam victims. Given the enormous financial and emotional costs of scams, researchers need to better understand this personality trait, with a view to assisting vulnerable individuals resist exploitation. Although research on the construct of gullibility per se has been sparse (e.g.
Journal of Applied Social Psychology, Feb 17, 2017
This study is the first attempt to investigate men's and women's anticipated reactions to a consu... more This study is the first attempt to investigate men's and women's anticipated reactions to a consultation with a doctor holding either a dehumanizing or humanistic approach to patient treatment. Participants (N 5 375) read a vignette depicting a doctor's treatment philosophy-emphasizing either the metaphor of the body as a machine (dehumanizing condition) or emphasizing individual humanness (humanizing condition). They then imagined consulting the doctor about a psychological or physical illness. Although, medical dehumanization had undesirable consequences, some men rated the dehumanizing doctor as more competent than the humanizing doctor. These were men who were (a) emotionally expressive and seeking help for a psychological illness, and (b) men low in emotional expressiveness seeking help for a physical illness. 1 | INTRODUCTION Dehumanization refers to the denial of a person's humanness (see Haslam, 2006, for a review). Specifically, a person can be denied their uniquely human (UH) attributes such as rationality, refinement, and civility when they are viewed as childlike or animalistic. Alternatively, a person can be denied their human nature attributes, including emotional responsiveness, agency, and interpersonal warmth, when they are viewed as an object or machine (Haslam, 2006). Of the two forms of humanness described by Haslam (2006), denial of human nature characteristics (mechanistic dehumanization) plays a potentially important role within the medical context, where doctors are encouraged to interpret illness dispassionately and objectively, and to view patients as mechanical systems with interacting parts (Haque & Waytz, 2012; Kriel, 1988). According to this view, disease may be explained as a malfunctioning of the machine. Whilst there has been some suggestion that dehumanization might have the benefit of freeing up the clinician's cognitive resources for problem solving (Haque & Waytz, 2012; see also Cheng et al., 2007; Decety, Yang, & Cheng, 2010), dehumanization of patients has also been posited to be indicative of clinician burnout (Maslach & Goldberg, 1998). In terms of the patient's perspective, however, the literature is clear that the experience of dehumanization is overwhelmingly negative, and is associated with dissatisfaction, fear, and less compliance (e.g., Gaillard, Shattell, & Thomas, 2009; Kralik, Kock, & Wotton, 1997). Furthermore, patients who experience an adverse medical event might be more likely to pursue malpractice claims if the treating physician does not display positive communication behaviors such as friendliness, clear communication, personal interest, and emotional support (Moore, Adler, & Robertson, 2000). A patient's relationship with their doctor is unique and highly valued, requiring trust and the frequent disclosure of intimate information. Thus, for effective treatment outcomes to ensue, it has been argued that patients need to feel cared for as well as cared about (Borbasi, Gal
It is presently unknown whether inspiration extends across different domains: can a salesperson, ... more It is presently unknown whether inspiration extends across different domains: can a salesperson, for example, be inspired by a successful athlete? The present study investigated whether inspirational content must be relevant to a subsequent task to improve performance. Participants (N 5 70) wrote about a time they felt inspired in a sporting context (domain-relevant), creative con
This study examined spontaneous and forced choice elicitations of emotion within the context of h... more This study examined spontaneous and forced choice elicitations of emotion within the context of happy and unhappy dating relationships. Seventy-one subjects (35 men and 36 women> in long term relationships were given 20 hypothetical relationship behaviours, 10 positive and 10 negative. Five behavioural events in each set of 10 were self-initiated and five were partner-initiated. Subjects imagined each behaviour occurring and tape recorded their subsequent thoughts and feelings. Subjects then chose one of 16 emotion categories, derived from Roseman’s (1984) cognitive model of emotion, that best described their feeling about the event. They also indicated how much control they perceived they and their partners had over the event. Emotional expressions from the verbal protocols were coded into the same set of 16 categories, and these spontaneous and forced choice measures achieved strong convergent validity. Results showed patterns of elicited emotions varied significantly depending on behaviour valency and, to a lesser degree, the initiator of the behaviour. Specific hypotheses derived from Roseman’s model relating particular emotional responses to relationship happiness were net supported. Theoretical and methodological implications are discussed
Previous studies have documented links between sub-clinical narcissism and the active pursuit of ... more Previous studies have documented links between sub-clinical narcissism and the active pursuit of short-term mating strategies (e.g., unrestricted sociosexuality, marital infidelity, mate poaching). Nearly all of these investigations have relied solely on samples from Western cultures. In the current study, responses from a cross-cultural survey of 30,470 people across 53 nations spanning 11 world regions (North America, Central/South America, Northern Europe, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Middle East, Africa, Oceania, Southeast Asia, and East Asia) were used to evaluate whether narcissism (as measured by the Narcissistic Personality Inventory; NPI) was universally associated with short-term mating. Results revealed narcissism scores (including two broad factors and seven traditional facets as measured by the NPI) were functionally equivalent across cultures, reliably associating with key sexual outcomes (e.g., more active pursuit of short-term mating, intimate par...
This article describes the development and refinement of the Annandale Emotional Signature Scale;... more This article describes the development and refinement of the Annandale Emotional Signature Scale; a measure that was subsequently employed as part of a battery of tests to explore the validity of the constructs of abandonment and annihilation. The Annandale Emotional Signature Scale (AESS) was first developed and administered to undergraduate psychology students, followed by a group of practitioners who were aware of the abandonment and annihilation dimensions. Based on the results with these sample populations, the AESS scale was modified and administered to a clinical population. From these studies with three different samples, two highly reliable factors emerged from the AESS. The Abandon factor comprises items describing feelings of inadequacy, self-critical thinking, and pleasing behaviours that indicate anxiety and worry about over-responsibility and rejection by others. The Annihilate factor comprises items describing adverse and traumatic events from the past, as opposed to ...
Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland), Jan 20, 2018
The role of emotions in adult learning and achievement has received increasing attention in recen... more The role of emotions in adult learning and achievement has received increasing attention in recent years. However, much of the emphasis has been on test anxiety, rather than the wider spectrum of negative emotions such as sadness, grief, boredom and anger. This paper reports findings of a qualitative study exploring the experience and functionality of negative emotions at university. Thirty-six academic staff and students from an Australian university were interviewed about emotional responses to a range of learning events. Data analysis was informed by a prototype approach to emotion research. Four categories of discrete negative emotions (anger, sadness, fear, boredom) were considered by teachers and students to be especially salient in learning, with self-conscious emotions (guilt, embarrassment, shame) mentioned by more students than staff. While negative emotions were frequently viewed as detrimental to motivation, performance and learning, they were also construed under some c...
The role of emotions in adult learning and achievement has received increasing attention in recen... more The role of emotions in adult learning and achievement has received increasing attention in recent years. However, much of the emphasis has been on test anxiety, rather than the wider spectrum of negative emotions such as sadness, grief, boredom and anger. This paper reports findings of a qualitative study exploring the experience and functionality of negative emotions at university. Thirty-six academic staff and students from an Australian university were interviewed about emotional responses to a range of learning events. Data analysis was informed by a prototype approach to emotion research. Four categories of discrete negative emotions (anger, sadness, fear, boredom) were considered by teachers and students to be especially salient in learning, with self-conscious emotions (guilt, embarrassment, shame) mentioned by more students than staff. While negative emotions were frequently viewed as detrimental to motivation, performance and learning, they were also construed under some circumstances as beneficial. The findings are discussed in relation to the value of social functional approaches for a better understanding of the diverse roles of negative emotions in learning and achievement.
Uploads
Papers by Julie Fitness