Cross-cultural differences and similarities in proneness to shame: An adaptationist and ecological approach

People vary in how easily they feel ashamed, that is, in their shame proneness. According to the information threat theory of shame, variation in shame proneness should, in part, be regulated by features of a person's social ecology. On this view, shame is an emotion program that evolved to mitigate the likelihood or costs of reputation-damaging information spreading to others. In social environments where there are fewer possibilities to form new relationships (i.e., low relational mobility), there are higher costs to damaging or losing existing ones. Therefore, shame proneness toward current relationship partners should increase as perceived relational mobility decreases. In contrast, individuals with whom one has little or no relationship history are easy to replace, and so shame-proneness towards them should not be modulated by relational mobility. We tested these predictions cross-culturally by measuring relational mobility and shame proneness towards friends and strangers in Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Japanese subjects were more shame-prone than their British and American counterparts. Critically, lower relational mobility was associated with greater shame proneness towards friends (but not strangers), and this relationship partially mediated the cultural differences in shame proneness. Shame proneness appears tailored to respond to relevant features of one's social ecology.     

Positive outcomes of social norm transgressions

Norm transgressions occur when consumers behave outside social expectations; such transgressions often cause embarrassment for the perpetrator and negative responses from witnesses. This study asks if norm violations can lead to positive audience responses. The study relies on 246 written reports from norm breakers and finds positive audience responses occurring almost 17 per cent of the time, with an additional 26 per cent of cases providing a mix of both positive and negative reactions. A content analysis of influence factors suggests that the emergence of a positive outcome depends on the importance of the norm, the position of the perpetrating behavior relative to the broader scope of the norm, and the rewards received by the audience as a result of the norm transgression. These factors are illustrated by representative participant quotes. The findings have implications for theory as well as marketing practice. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

It Takes Two to Tangle: Gender Symmetry in Intimate Partner Violence

This study examined the equivalence of male and female intimate partner violence (IPV) across three samples of the New Zealand population (student, general, and incarcerated). Additionally, we compared the attitudes of victims and perpetrators. Findings revealed that although the incarcerated sample experienced a higher frequency of violence, the nature of IPV was similar across the samples. More importantly, our findings showed gender symmetry in IPV with male and female IPV being similar in frequency, severity, and injury. There was, however, some variation in the type of physical abuse acts perpetrated as a function of gender. Furthermore, victims and perpetrators reported similar attitudes and behaviors that differentiated them from participants with no history of physical violence. These included being more hostile, holding traditional gendered beliefs, and lacking communication and anger management skills. A rethinking of how we view IPV is recommended in light of these findings.     

Outcomes of Client Transfers in a Training Setting

Although transferring clients from one clinician to another is a common practice in most training facilities and community clinics, there is a dearth of empirical studies that explore the impact on client retention and subsequent therapeutic gains. This study explored client retention following transfer to a new clinician in a COAMFTE accredited master level marriage and family therapy program in a Midwestern university over a period of five years. The researchers analyzed the relationship between client, clinician, and therapy process variables and client retentions following transfer. Although client and therapist variables were not significantly correlated with successful transfers, the number of sessions missed prior to transfer and the numbers of co-therapy transfer sessions were. We conclude that at least four co-therapy transfer sessions are appropriate to optimize successful transfers.     

Predicting Immigrants' Attitudes Toward Multiculturalism Using a Measure of Its Perceived Benefits

We examined the predictors of attitudes toward multiculturalism in a sample of Asian and African immigrants. Multiculturalism was measured in terms of its perceived benefits as realized through Canadian government policy. As well as replicating past findings, two hypotheses derived from social identity theory are supported: Canadian identity and acculturation into Canadian society were significant predictors of attitudes toward multiculturalism. Counter to previous research findings, perceived discrimination was a negative predictor of these attitudes. The distinction between predicting support for attitudes toward multiculturalism measured as an ideology versus attitudes toward multiculturalism measured in terms of its perceived benefits is discussed.     

Letter to the editor

Sandor Ferenczi: Reconsidering Active Interventions by Martin Stanton (Northvale, NJ: Aronson, 1991, xv + 226 pp.)

The Legacy of Sandor Ferenczi, edited by Lewis Aron and Adrienne Harris (Hillsdale, NJ: The Analytic Press, 1993, xxiii + 294 pp.)

The Correspondence of Sigmund Freud and Sandor Ferenczi, Vol. 1, 1908–1914, edited by Eva Brabant, Ernst Falzeder, and Patrizia Giampieri‐Deutch under the supervision of André Haynal; translated by Peter T. Hoffer (Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1993, xxxv + 584 pp.)     

Film review

Lucy, 21 months, in foster care for 19 days(Film series and guide-book, Young Children in Brief Separation obtainable from Concord Films Council, Nacton, Ipswich, Suffolk, U.K.).     

Psychoimmunology and aids: Psychological distress and herpes simplex virus in human immunodeficiency virus infected individuals

Abstract

No studies investigating the relationship of herpesviruses and psychological distress in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection are available in the literature. Antibody titers for Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr (EBV) and Herpes Simplex virus (HSV) were assessed from sera drawn at the lime of psychological testing for one hundred HIV seropositive subjects. Increased psychological distress was correlated with increased titers of antibody to HSV, but not to CMV or EBV. Psychological distress may play a role in the devastating HSV infections experienced by immune deficient individuals. A stress mediated reactivation/potentiation hypothesis is discussed, where distress reactivates latent HSV which in turn potentiates HIV replication. These results may have implications for treatment of individuals co-infected with HIV and HSV.     

Income and support during transition from a military to civilian career

This study examined experienced military members (N= 136, average age 51 years) transitioning to a 2nd occupation, specifically K–12 teaching, and revealed correlations between the length of their transition to both perceived support and income. Perceived support from family and friends had a small, positive correlation with transition time (r= .31), while income had a small, negative correlation with transition time (r=?.28). The Career Transitions Inventory ( Heppner, 1991 ), the Satisfaction with Life Scale ( Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985 ), demographic questions, and open‐ended questions were used. Implications for career counselors working with transitioning military members are discussed, along with future implications for research and practice.