Social body comparison and internalization: Mediators of social influences on men's muscularity-oriented body dissatisfaction

Research suggests that body dissatisfaction (BD) is prevalent among males and associated with unhealthy outcomes. Consistent with the well-validated Tripartite Influence Model, internalization of an ideal body figure and social body comparison have received support as predictors of men's dissatisfaction with their muscularity. However, empirical investigations with males that include both constructs are lacking. The current study examined the associations of both constructs with muscularity-oriented BD in a sample of college men (n = 204). Results from hierarchical regression analyses revealed that internalization and social body comparisons had unique relations with men's muscularity-oriented BD. A structural equation model indicated that both constructs mediated the relationship between social influences and muscularity BD. Preliminary data on targets of male body comparisons also were presented. These findings provide evidence for extension of the Tripartite Influence Model to males, particularly when constructs are assessed in ways that are reliable and valid for this population.     

The Contextual Role of Depression within Couples Experiencing Partner Violence

Despite previous research suggesting a link between intimate partner violence (IPV) and depression within romantic relationships, few studies have examined the role of depression in couples experiencing violence. Using dyadic data of 129 heterosexual couples seeking couples therapy for high conflict including physical IPV, depressive symptoms were evaluated as a moderator in the association between psychological and physical IPV. Results indicated that moderate and high reports of women's depressive symptoms provided a context, while men's psychological abuse toward them moved from low to high, for women to be more physically abusive toward their partners. Further, low reports of women's depressive symptoms provided a context, while men's psychological abuse toward them moved from low to high, for women to be less physically abusive toward their partners. Better understanding the role of depression and how it may offer a context for physical violence assists helping professionals in holistically addressing violence within romantic relationships.     

Toward a contemporary quantitative model of punishment

A direct‐suppression, or subtractive, model of punishment has been supported as the qualitatively and quantitatively superior matching law‐based punishment model (Critchfield, Paletz, MacAleese, & Newland, 2003; de Villiers, 1980; Farley, 1980). However, this conclusion was made without testing the model against its predecessors, including the original (Herrnstein, 1961) and generalized (Baum, 1974) matching laws, which have different numbers of parameters. To rectify this issue, we reanalyzed a set of data collected by Critchfield et al. (2003) using information theoretic model selection criteria. We found that the most advanced version of the direct‐suppression model (Critchfield et al., 2003) does not convincingly outperform the generalized matching law, an account that does not include punishment rates in its prediction of behavior allocation. We hypothesize that this failure to outperform the generalized matching law is due to significant theoretical shortcomings in model development. To address these shortcomings, we present a list of requirements that all punishment models should satisfy. The requirements include formal statements of flexibility, efficiency, and adherence to theory. We compare all past punishment models to the items on this list through algebraic arguments and model selection criteria. None of the models presented in the literature thus far meets all of the requirements.     

Keeping it Between the Buoys: Assessing Self-Reported Boating Under the Influence (BUI) in a Young Adult Population

Boating Under the Influence (BUI) has recently become a topic of significant concern. Employing a sample of 1,082 young adult boaters, we explore demographic characteristics of those who seek various levels of intoxication while boating and apply several of the leading criminological theories to the study of BUI. We evaluate self-report measures of intoxicated boating, buzzed boating, and BUI. Results indicate that social learning theory and low self-control are leading predictors of BUI. We conclude that given the social nature and cultural acceptance of drinking while boating, simply lowering the blood alcohol content legal limit may not solve the BUI problem.