Alejandro Verdaguer

Kathleen Sorabella and Nicole Rovinelli

Modern day stigmas that carry a mark of shame tend to be symptoms or behaviors incongruent with mainstream society. Stigma limits social support as well as crucial services and opportunities in a community. Current research falls short in examining stigmatizing perceptions against people who have a mental or physical illness, and whether housing status reduces or increases perceived stigma. This study examines the perceptions of stigma in respect to perceived dangerousness and a desire for distance from people who have cancer, schizophrenia, are homeless, or live independently. One hundred fifty-five college students read a brief scenario, rated their level of perceived dangerousness, and desire for social distance from the scenario character. Results indicated that participants viewed people who have schizophrenia as more dangerous, and demanded greater social distance than from a person with cancer. Results further suggest that in the United States increased contact with stigmatized individuals may reduce negative evaluations in the long term.

Rachel Whipkey

This study was designed to examine first impression formation based solely on women’s business style clothing. Participants (n = 101) were presented with one of two photographs depicting a woman in traditional business style or trendy/current business style clothing either on a college campus or in a business environment setting. Ratings of perceived competence and task ability and social attributes were computed, as well as rater self-reports. Participants reported more favorable perceptions of social attributes related to the trendy/current style. Findings also indicated that participants who reported high clothing importance also reported high perceived social, task ability and competence attributes in relation to business style. Results showed no differences of perceived task ability and competence attributes for clothing style. When looking at personal clothing style preferences, comfort, appropriateness and stylishness were the deciding factors of what clothing the participants indicated they wore.

Rachel Whipkey

In this study, the impact of women’s business clothing color on impressions related to work competence was evaluated. After viewing one of three color versions (beige, pink, or blue) of a casual style business suit, 82 women completed ratings of perceived competence and task ability and social attributes. Results found no differences between clothing color and task ability and competence ratings. Participants reported more favorable social attribute impressions of the blue attire. Majority of the participants (n = 79) found the model suitable for employment. The importance of young women's clothing selections when preparing for entry-level career-oriented job interviews is discussed.

Maya Ludwig

The study was designed to examine the influence of gender and early dental experience on dental anxiety and behavior. A sample of 109 adults, mostly Caucasian college student, was presented with survey consisting of scenarios depicting early dental visits. The scenarios varied by character gender and whether the first dental experience was negative or neutral. Participants completed scales measuring perceived dental anxiety and avoidance of the character as adult. They also provided information on their own dental concerns, fears, anxieties and experiences. The findings indicated that participants’ perceived dental avoidance - minimizing dental visits, with early negative dental experience – an individual’s own traumatic experience in a dental office. The majority of those participants reported to be women. In addition it was found that participants’ own perceived dental fears were associated with their perceived dental concerns and other general anxieties. However, participants did not perceive dental anxiety with an early negative dental experience described in the study. Self reports indicated that the majority of participants had their first dental visit by the age of 6, for a routine checkup and the majority of participants have dental insurance and had braces in the past.

Stacy Saint Louis and Sarah Kozlowski

This study was developed to examine the perceived importance of race and similarity in dating selections. One hundred and twenty undergraduate college students, whom were mostly white, were presented with a scenario of a white male making a date selection from a variety of personal ads. The personal ads were manipulated to fit the description of white and non-white celebrity female characters with similar and dissimilar interest to that of the white male character. The students completed questionnaires that included measures of perceived acceptability and compatibility for the scenario characters. Results indicated that interest and personality similarities were more important than race similarities. These finding may suggest that race may no longer be a major factor when choosing a dating partner.

Douglas James Anastasia

College students may psychologically benefit from the presence of a pet dog in a professor’s office, while instructors may be perceived as more approachable to their student body simply by having their pet dog present. Research indicates that people are sometimes perceived more positively simply by the accompaniment of a pet dog. While past research has found differences among students’ perceptions of approachability to pet owners with different pet animals, the present study will examine the effects of a dog’s gender, along with the gender of a college instructor on college students’ perceptions of the dog owning instructor. Participants included 136 college students from a small New England state college. Participants were randomly assigned to read a scenario and view two pictures: an instructor and a dog. Gender of professor was evident in the photograph, but gender of the dog was referenced in the corresponding written scenario. After viewing the photographs and reading a brief written scenario, participants then responded to a questionnaire. Results indicated that dog gender and instructor gender did not influence college students’ perceptions of comfort and approachability toward faculty members.

Meghan E. O'Brien and Julie M. Santaniello

Due to the frequency of alcohol related accidents, many college students are faced with the experience of dealing with the death of a close friend or an acquaintance in a drunk driving accident. This study investigated if people would change their risk-taking behaviors after experiencing a drunk driving event. Volunteers (n = 178) read one of six scenarios that varied the relationship (close friend, acquaintance) and outcome of a drunk driving event (safe, no injury, or death). Questionnaires were completed assessing the participants’ likeliness to drink and drive, reasons to drink, thrill levels, and desirability of social acceptance. Results showed that participants are more likely to drink and drive if the close friend or acquaintance died. Although these findings do not correspond with the direction of the proposed hypothesis, people do change their drinking and driving habits.

Sean P. Toland

Early parenting styles set the tone for adult relationships and may even influence an adult child’s occupation choice. This study examined the differences in parenting styles and political affiliation and how they affect vocational motives in their children. A sample of 162 college students was randomly assigned to read one of six scenarios describing a college student whose parents were authoritarian, authoritative, or permissive and either Republican or Democratic. Participants then rated the scenario character on monetary, prestigious, and intrinsic vocational motivation. Participants who read a scenario of a character raised by Republican parents rated that character as having higher monetary vocational motivation than participants who read a scenario of a character raised by Democratic parents. Further, participants who read a scenario of a character raised by authoritarian parents rated that character to have higher monetary vocational motivation than participants who read a scenario of a character raised by permissive parents.