Suchergebnisse

Research on the effect of a negative social labeling on compliance has shown divergent results. Sometimes, a negative labeling made after a first request leads to decreased compliance with a further request, while, in other cases, this labeling leads to increased compliance. These contradictory
results could come from the presence or absence of a link between the label and the nature of the further request. An experiment was carried out in which subjects were the target of an initial negative label (unpleasant remark on the fact they ate horse meat presented on top of a shopping
bag they had agreed to keep an eye on). Then, a few seconds later, they had the opportunity to carry out a prosocial behavior linked with the label (a petition in favor of animals) or without a link with it (a petition for the diminution of pollution). Results showed that compliance with the
later request was affected by the initial labeling only when there was congruence between the request and the label.

Was manch ein Wanderer, Spaziergänger oder Gärtner schon ahnte und intuitiv richtig macht, ist nun also auch wissenschaftlich untermauert: Natur ist gut für den Menschen. Der Aufenthalt im Freien, der Blick auf Grünes, Pflanzen in Räumen, all das hat positive Auswirkungen auf Gesundheit, Stimmung und Sozialverhalten. Die Erkenntnisse sollten berücksichtigt werden bei der Gestaltung von Räumen, seien es Schulen, Krankenhäuser, Büros, Gefängnisse ... Im 2. Teil untersuchen die Sozialpsychologen, welche Eigenschaften unweltbewusstes Handeln fördern, wie die Menschen dafür sensibilisiert werden können, welche Möglichkeiten zur Einflussnahme es gibt. Gut durchstrukturiert, mit Einleitung, Bericht über Studien und Erkenntnisse und Fazit. Interessant, spannend, humorvoll geschrieben, belegt mit Anmerkungen und umfangreichem Literaturverzeichnis. Als Einblick in die Umweltpsychologie vor Jürgen Hellbrück (ID-G 15/12) breit einsetzbar. (2)

Research has consistently found exposure to a natural environment to be associated with health and psychological well-being. However, the effect of such an environment on social behavior and relationships remains in question. In a field experiment, male and female confederates accidentally dropped a glove on the ground while walking in a natural environment. The confederates continued walking, apparently unaware of their loss. Passersby were tested either before or after their immersion in an urban green park with large trees, lawns, and flowers. It was found that passersby tested after immersion in the park helped the confederates more readily than those tested before immersion in the park. In a second study, possible mediating factors of this effect (positive mood and desire to help others) were tested. Mood was found to be a mediating factor, whereas desire to help others partially mediated the relation between immersion in a natural environment and helping behavior.

Because it has been found that people are more willing to help someone with whom they believe they have something in common (Burger, Messian, Patel, del Prado, & Anderson, 2004), we hypothesized that people would become less reluctant to respond to questions on intimate topics when
these questions were asked by an interviewer who shared an incidental similarity with the respondent. A male or a female confederate approached, respectively, female and male passers-by seeking their participation in a survey about sexual behavior, in which the questions became increasingly
intimate. At the beginning of the survey, the interviewer pointed out (similarity condition) or did not point out (no similarity condition) that he/she and the participant shared the same birth date. It was found that, compared with participants in the no similarity condition, participants
in the similarity condition responded to more questions.

The aim in this study was to improve persuasive communication in a French workplace context. Within the framework of a global progress plan, visual communication changes were proposed in an aeronautical factory. We applied the paradigm of binding communication to contribute to making
communication more effective. In accordance with the theory of commitment, we induced employees to perform freely a visible preparatory act (i.e., answer a questionnaire) before the upgrading of notice boards and institution of a monthly newsletter. We compared behavioral variables before
and after the introduction of these changes. The results indicated that employees consulted the newly available information more frequently. Moreover, according to 2 performance indicators, they significantly enhanced the quality of their work.

Research has shown that mimicry increases the social influence of the mimicker and leads to greater liking of the mimicker. It has been proposed that mimicry is exhibited to create affiliation and rapport during social interaction. In two experiments (total N = 95) we manipulated the role of incidental similarity between two individuals on mimicry behavior. Undergraduates who believed they had (vs. did not have) the same first name (Study 1) or same subject of study (Study 2) as a target presented on videotape were more likely to mimic the target's nonverbal behavior. Results support the notion that mimicry helps to create affiliation and rapport because the desire to build such a relationship is higher in the similarity condition.