3 research outputs found
Reversed better-than-average effect in direct comparisons of nonsocial stimuli depends on the set size
Studies on direct comparative judgments typically show that, for items that are positively evaluated, a single item randomly drawn from a larger set of similar items tends to be judged as better than average (the BTA effect). However, Windschitl, Conybeare, and Krizan (2008) demonstrated that, under timing conditions that do not favor focusing attention on the single item, the reversal of the BTA effect occurs. We report two experiments showing that the magnitude of the reversed BTA effect increases as a function of the size of a multiitem referent with which a single item target is compared. Specifically, in direct comparative judgments of the attractiveness of positively evaluated objects (nice-looking cloth buttons, attractive buildings, or cupcakes), underestimation of the attractiveness of singletons, as compared with a multiitem set (reversed BTA effect), increased with the increased set size. Analysis of absolute judgments obtained for singletons and for small and large multiitem sets suggests that, for attractive stimuli, both the reversed BTA effect in comparative judgments and its sensitivity to set size occur as a result of a positive relationship between set size and perceived attractiveness in absolute judgments
Threats to feminist identity and reactions to gender based discrimination
The aim of this research was to examine conditions that modify feministsâsupport for women as targets of
gender discrimination. In an experimental study we tested a
hypothesis that threatened feminist identity will lead to
greater differentiation between feminists and conservative
women as victims of discrimination and, in turn, a decrease
in support for non-feminist victims. The study was
conducted among 96 young Polish female professionals
and graduate students from Gender Studies programs in
Warsaw who self-identified as feminists (Mage=22.23).
Participants were presented with a case of workplace gender
discrimination. Threat to feminist identity and worldview of
the discrimination victim (feminist vs. conservative) were
varied between research conditions. Results indicate that
identity threat caused feminists to show conditional reactions to discrimination. Under identity threat, feminists perceived the situation as less discriminatory when the target
held conservative views on gender relations than when the
target was presented as feminist. This effect was not observed under conditions of no threat. Moreover, feminists
showed an increase in compassion for the victim when she
was portrayed as a feminist compared to when she was
portrayed as conservative. Implications for the feminist
movement are discussed