The Effects of Social Comparison and Subjective Financial Well-Being on Subjective Well-Being

Existing research on the antecedents of subjective well-being (SWB), which comprises life satisfaction and happiness, remains inconclusive. Some studies suggest that increasing income enhances SWB, while others emphasize the role of income comparison within reference groups in influencing SWB. The role of subjective financial well-being in enhancing subjective well-being is also inconclusive. On the one hand, financial well-being may contribute to increasing SWB; on the other, subjective financial well-being is a characteristic compared to reference groups, and this comparison is what influences SWB. This study, therefore, sets out to answer the question: How does social comparison and subjective financial well-being influence SWB? We predict that social comparison influences SWB (life satisfaction and happiness) through the mediation of subjective financial well-being. Data from 3,591 respondents (1,750 females, 1,841 males, aged 21 – 60 years; M = 30.81, SD = 7.51) in the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS 5) were analyzed using path analysis. The measures in this study include financial well-being, life satisfaction, happiness, and social comparison taken from IFLS-5 Book III A. The research findings indicate that social comparison does not directly influence life satisfaction and happiness. However, the influence of social comparison on both is mediated by subjective financial well-being. The practical implications of this research suggest that individuals who are happy and satisfied with their lives need to have at least one satisfying life domain, such as financial well-being, and focus on subjective self-evaluation rather than constantly comparing themselves with reference groups

In Search of the Lost Interaction: A Theoretical and Methodological Framework for Researching Interactions

We suggest that psychological research into interaction effects might benefit from analyzing potential interactions from the perspective of the Positive Predictive Value (PPV). The PPV denotes the post-study probability that a claimed effect is true, based on the pre-study probability that said effect exists, the power of the respective test and the significance level used for testing. We use the PPV in order to propose a framework structuring potential interaction effects based on their (theoretical) plausibility and their shape. Specifically, the position of a hypothesized interaction in the proposed framework may inform sample-size planning and the choice of alpha levels prior to a study; and it may inform confidence into results after a study. Finally, we present a heuristic approach for planning research on interactions based on R (the pre-study probability that an effect exists), the PPV (the post-study probability that a claimed effect is true) and α (the significance level used for significance testing). In doing so, we aim to provide a nuanced view on the feasibility of investigating into interactional hypotheses, a view that is critical where needed but that at the same time does not discourage research on interactions

One-Minute Silent Video Clips: A Database of Valence and Arousal

Researchers in the behavioral and social sciences use linear discriminant analysis (LDA) for predictions of group membership (classification) and for identifying the variables most relevant to group separation among a set of continuous correlated variables (description). In these and other disciplines, longitudinal data are often collected which provide additional temporal information. Linear classification methods for repeated measures data are more sensitive to actual group differences by taking the complex correlations between time points and variables into account, but are rarely discussed in the literature. Moreover, psychometric data rarely fulfill the multivariate normality assumption.The article introduces a dataset consisting of 160 one-minute affective video clips with normative values of valence and arousal. Each video was evaluated by 30 subjects, while each subject evaluated at least 20 videos. Compared to previous attempts to collect affective videos, the dataset has several advantages. Firstly, the high number of videos in different valence categories allows researchers to compile appropriate subsets for their studies. Secondly, the approximately equal and conventional duration of videos makes it possible to use them in psychophysiological studies applying EEG, fMRI, peripheral polygraphy, posturography, TMS, etc. Thirdly, the exclusion of sound or speech that might provoke culture-dependent interpretation makes the dataset useful in different cultures. The relationship between valence and arousal showed a typical quadratic pattern, with very negative and very positive videos receiving higher levels of arousal. Several negative videos received greater arousal scores than the most positive ones, reflecting negativity bias. The dataset encompasses more than 50 videos of different valence (negative, neutral, and positive ones). We believe that it will permit researchers to select corresponding subsamples of videos from different categories for their studies

Memory and False Memory for Information That Is Either Expected or Unexpected Based on Age Stereotypes

Age is a major social categorization information because it is one of the first attributes that is perceived about an individual. The present study used the misinformation paradigm to investigate memory and false memory for information that is either expected or unexpected based on age stereotypes. Young adults were presented with a passage depicting a crime. The passage also contained information about the physical performance and social behavior of the main character that was either expected (expected information condition) or unexpected (unexpected information condition) for his age. The main character was a young adult in the expected information condition and an older adult in the unexpected information condition. Next, misinformation was provided about a detail related to the crime. After a non-verbal filler task, participants recalled the exact sentences from the passage, and then they completed a forced-choice recognition test for them. Measures of attitudes toward older adults did not differ across the groups. The results revealed worse recognition memory for the sentences and higher false recognition of the misinformation in the expected information condition than in the unexpected information condition. The recall test revealed higher commission errors in the expected information condition than in the unexpected information condition. Commission errors were in general consistent with the information in the passage. The results imply that stereotypically expected information is automatically processed, making it more vulnerable to memory errors. The study contributes to the understanding of the memory processes underlying stereotyping that can lead to prejudice and discrimination

Feeling Threatened by the War in Ukraine: A Study in Italy on Identification, Entitativity and Attitudes Toward the EU

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 posed a practical and symbolic threat to EU citizens. Did this threat affect citizens’ identification with the EU? This was the main research question addressed in the current paper. In addition, we sought to evaluate whether the influence of perceived threat on the identification with the EU was mediated by perceived entitativity of the EU. Finally, we expected perceived threat to improve participants’ attitudes towards EU integration and enlargement, through the mediation of entitativity (Mediator 1) and identification with the EU (Mediator 2). We conducted a survey (N = 349, 186 females; Mage = 34.52) to assess this pattern of relations through structural equation models. Results show that perceived threat affects identification with the EU only indirectly, through the mediation of entitativity. In addition, perceived threat and entitativity have a significant indirect effect on attitude toward EU integration and attitude toward EU enlargement, yet they are directly associated only to the former. From a theoretical perspective, results are discussed in relation to previous research that shows the effect of perceived threat on identification, failing to consider the mediating role of entitativity. From a practical point of view, results may provide new insights on communication commonly used to reinforce the ingroup identity—mainly by threat-based strategies—through a re-consideration of the critical role of entitativity

Alexithymia and Internet Addiction: Mediating Role of Social Connectedness, Impulsivity, and Moderation by Depression

Internet addiction is a mounting concern in current times. Recent studies indicate a link between alexithymia and Internet addiction, but the underlying mechanisms of this association require more investigation. The present study explores the relationship between alexithymia and Internet addiction, with the mediating effect of Impulsivity and social connectedness, and the moderating effect of depression. A convenience sample of 362 participants between the ages of 18 and 25 years participated in this study and completed the Young’s Internet Addiction Test, Toronto-Alexithymia Scale, The Social Connectedness Scale, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 15, and The Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Revised. The results indicate that the direct effect of alexithymia on Internet addiction is partially mediated through impulsivity and social connectedness. Further, the moderating effect of depression is found to be non-significant. The results revealed two possible pathways through which alexithymia influences Internet addiction. Future research and interventions on Internet addiction can use these findings to mitigate the adverse outcomes of Internet addiction

An Investigation of the 10:20 Protection Rule for Detecting Aquatic Hazards

Seven percent of all injury-related global deaths in 2019 were attributed to drowning, relating to 236,000 lives claimed and the stark reality persists that incidents of drowning continue to occur within zones overseen by trained lifeguards. Some lifeguard training agencies advocate the use of specific scan techniques and patterns and the 10:20 protection rule is recommended by a variety of lifeguarding agencies. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the 10-second element of the 10:20 protection rule (referred to as the 10-second scan strategy) compared to a more natural scan strategy. Two 30-minute videos were developed capturing scripted and unscripted swimming pool hazards. Water safety experts were then employed to collectively review, identify, and achieve consensus on hazards. In a within-subject design, lifeguards (n = 25) were instructed to watch videos under two conditions (i.e., 10-second and natural scan conditions) and respond via whistle blow and vocal response. In the 10-second scan condition, lifeguards were instructed to use the 10:20 system of supervision and scan the zone every 10-seconds whilst supervising the pool. In the natural scan condition, lifeguards were told to follow a scan strategy that felt comfortable for them. The results demonstrated that there was no significant difference in the percentage of hazards detected in the 10-second scan condition compared to the natural scan condition. However, the results show that lifeguards were unable to execute the 10-second scan strategy (i.e., scanning the full zone every 10 seconds). While results show that hazard detection is similar in both conditions, lifeguards were not adhering to the 10-second scan and thus comparisons between the 10-second scan strategy and natural scanning are not possible. The key conclusion from this study is that it is not possible for lifeguards to scan the full zone every 10 seconds, despite explicit instructions to do so, and thus the 10:20 protection rule should be carefully considered if agencies are advocating it as an effective scanning strategy

Affective Reactions When Learning That Our Answer Is Biased: The Role of Negative Feedback in the Arousal of Epistemic Emotions

This study investigated how different types of feedback influence emotional reactions in decision-making tasks involving high-confidence errors. The sample consisted of 596 undergraduate and postgraduate university students. Participants completed tasks and received either low informative feedback (indicating correctness) or high informative feedback (offering detailed explanations of correct answers). They reported their confidence levels and epistemic emotions of surprise, confusion, and curiosity. Participants reported epistemic emotions after each type of feedback. The results showed that confidence ratings did not differ between correct and incorrect answers. Incorrect answers elicited higher levels of surprise, curiosity, and confusion than correct answers. High informative feedback significantly reduced epistemic emotions, especially confusion, compared to low informative feedback. These results highlight the importance of detailed feedback in shaping epistemic emotions and enhancing learning in problem-solving contexts. Implications for research and teaching practices are discussed

Unchartered Territory: Understanding Public Compliance During the Covid-19 Pandemic and the Effectiveness of UK Government Communications

The COVID-19 pandemic presented unpresented challenges to societies and the way in which we live, everyday behaviours became prohibited and various parts of the economy were completely shut down in the United Kingdom. Such draconian and radical changes to everyday life are indeed important to study and the present paper captures a representative response of the compliance to social distancing measures implemented in the United Kingdom. This paper explores the effectiveness of the UK Government’s messaging aimed at inducing conformity, whilst considering alternative experimental messages designed to influence conformity by targeting demographics using the principles of NUDGE theory (Thaler & Sunstein, 2008). An online cross-sectional survey was administered in May/June 2020 to 1028 residents of the UK. A cluster analysis was performed to identify different demographic profiles associated with rule breaking. The findings of the present paper outlined clearly that the UK public struggled to adhere to the social distancing rules implemented with relatively low rates of complete compliance and identified two groups of individuals who although only represent a small percentage of the sample (< 20%) were accountable for the majority of rule breaking behaviour. The findings provide an indication of which measures were viewed as more serious and as such less likely to broken, alongside which demographic groups were the least compliant. Regarding the Government’s messaging used during the pandemic, this was demonstrated to be more effective than the hypothetical communications used in the present study. The present paper offers, important insights into specific aspects of non-conformity, including contact with the Police during this time. The present paper offers important learning lessons to improve adherence to social distancing in the future by providing a breakdown of the areas where social distancing is most likely to breached and an indication of who is likely to do this

Behavioral and Neuropsychological Correlates of Emotion Regulation via Attentional Deployment: An Expanded Replication

Attentional deployment (AD) constitutes an emotion regulation (ER) strategy that shifts the attentional focus to modulate the emotional experience. There are very few experimental paradigms that can study AD. One such task studies AD by using emotional images with zones of focus within them, to manipulate visual attention toward arousing or non-arousing portions of the scene. However, this task has only been implemented with participants inside a scanner and has no replications beyond the work of the original research group. In the present study, we replicated and extended a previously introduced AD task, implementing it with a sample of 55 adult participants. Our sample performed the task in a regular laboratory setting, including eye-tracking to monitor instruction following, and in addition, participants completed an attentional test. We replicated the original AD effect in a new population sample, although we found a lower effect size. We conceived and computed an estimate of AD abilities by comparing intensity and valence ratings across attentional conditions. We also analyzed the association between attention measured through the Attention Network Test (ANT) and AD capacities and found no relationship. The task can be used in the laboratory to analyze the AD process. Our replication and expansion of the AD task provide valuable insights into the behavioral and neuropsychological correlates of ER strategies