<p>Three studies examine individuals' implicit sensitivity to the absence of motivation perceived in others and how the nature of this sensitivity is moderated by individuals' own motivational states. Using a subliminal priming paradigm, Study 1 tested a direct perception-behavior link between perceiving indifference in others and applying such indifference towards one's own pursuits. Study 2 then examined how individuals who are primed in advance with a nonconscious achievement goal show automatic counteraction to the indifference perceived in others. Using a video-based priming paradigm, Study 3 then found that such goal-driven counteraction to indifference occurred only among individuals with higher action control--those who had the ability to sustain goal pursuit after the intention to pursue it has been formed. In contrast, individuals with lower action control in Study 3 were more susceptible to indifference than all other participants, particularly when an achievement goal was made highly active in memory. These influences were found in all three studies to occur largely without participants' conscious intent or awareness.</p> / Dissertation

<p>This investigation explored the conditions that minimize the negative effects of lacking choice and maximize the positive effects of having choice. Four experimental studies were conducted with college students as participants. Four aspects of this issue were addressed: (a) whether the saliency of not having a choice moderates the detrimental effects of lacking choice, (b) whether having choice is more beneficial when the type of choice is less costly in terms of self-regulatory effort, (c) whether the effect of choice on motivation is influenced by the number of choices an individual must make, and (d) whether perceived competence mediates of the relationships between choice, motivation and performance. Overall, this investigation failed to provide substantial support for the hypotheses regarding factors that might moderate the effects of choice on motivation. Null results are proposed to be largely attributable to the strength of the choice manipulations, the nature of the tasks used, and characteristics of participants. The results of two studies provided partial support for hypotheses showing that participants in no-choice conditions experienced a decrease in perceived competence or intrinsic motivation for the task, while participants who received a choice experienced no such decrease. This in conjunction with evidence showing that the participants found the task to be more difficult than expected suggested that choice may serve a protective function for difficult tasks. Further, exploratory analyses revealed that that the effect of choice may be more beneficial for individuals with low perceived or actual competence and that restricting choice may be more detrimental to individuals with high perceived or actual competence. Ways in which future studies may address the limitations of the present investigation and build on exploratory findings are discussed.</p> / Dissertation

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2009. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: B, page: 3826. Adviser: Ying-Yi Hong. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 47-52) Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Central Florida, 2009. / Adviser: Fernando Rivera. Includes bibliographical references (p. 55-64).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University, 1931. / Vita. "Carried on in the nursery schools of the Child Development Institute of Teachers College, Columbia University."--Introd. Published also without thesis note. Bibliography: p. 100.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration, December 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Lehigh University, 2009. / Adviser: Michael J. Gill.

This investigation presents a model to explain and test the influence of power and communication in close relationships. Rollins and Bahr's (1976) theory of power in marital relationships, referred to here as dyadic power theory, was expanded to include communication behavior. The theory, which emphasizes the dyadic nature of power, draws upon social exchange theory, the chilling effect, sex roles, and normative resource theory. It is proposed that perceptions of legitimate authority to make decisions and access to a variety of resources should increase individuals' perceptions of their own power compared to their partner. Perceptions of power, in turn, should increase the likelihood of using dominant communication behavior in an attempt to control the interaction. Greater control attempts should lead greater influence over decisions. It is also predicted that perceptions of power and control will increase relational satisfaction for the partner having power. The prepositional framework of dyadic power theory is explicated and several hypotheses based on the theory are given. Ninety-seven couples (58 married, 39 cohabiting) participated in a study of power in relationships. Couples completed surveys on perceptions of their authority, resources and power compared to their partner. The couples then completed a problem-solving task together while being videotaped. The videotapes were coded for a variety of verbal and nonverbal control attempts including dysfluencies, interruptions, frequency of adaptor and illustrator gestures, vocal characteristics, and dominance. The model tested in this investigation was largely supported. Individuals' perceptions of authority and resources were predictors of perceived relative power, and perceptions of power led to more dominant communication behavior during discussions with their partner. This dominant behavior led to control over the outcome of their interaction. Relational satisfaction was not influenced by the amount of power or control enjoyed by the participants. Men reported having more psychological, physical and economic resources while women reported greater authority over the household and children. Masculine individuals reported feeling more powerful and contributed more to the outcome of the discussions with their partners than feminine individuals overall. The influence of personality traits and suggestions for future revisions of dyadic power theory are discussed.

Socio-cultural brand associations (e.g., brand personality) often drive the preferences and choices of consumers. While previous research suggests that the people and social situations represented in advertisements play an important role in shaping consumers' socio-cultural brand associations, extant theorizing offers little insight into the specific mental mechanisms involved in producing such outcomes. In attempting to address this important shortcoming, my dissertation develops a new conceptual framework for investigating social information processing, the Controlled-Automatic Meaning (or CAM) Model. This model casts social information in a central role, giving primary emphasis to the mental processes through which consumers draw socio-cultural meanings from the social cues used in advertising. Two studies aimed at providing an initial assessment of the CAM Model are reported. The first study utilizes conservative methodology to provide a strict test of the model's processing specifications, and unfortunately fails to provide evidence that preconscious exposure to social imagery impacts adult consumers' socio-cultural brand associations in the manner outlined by the model. The second study provides a more successful examination of the model's utility in predicting how children and adults process the social meanings contained in television advertising when the ads are seen under normal, marketplace viewing conditions. Results from the study provide compelling evidence of the model's utility in predicting and explaining developmental changes in consumers' processing of gender meanings represented in advertising. The second study's outcomes also suggest several promising directions for future research involving the CAM Model.

This study examines the long-term effects of spousal violence on adolescent daughters' adjustment. The continuity of marital violence over time is proposed to affect the mother-daughter relationship via parenting. Two primary goals are addressed in the study. First, the influence of marital violence, psychological abuse, psychopathology and substance use on parenting is assessed. The second goal is designed to answer the question of how marital violence, psychological abuse, maternal risk factors and parenting affect the development of problem behaviors in girls. A total of 137 mother-daughter pairs were interviewed at three points in time spanning nearly 9 years. Mothers were interviewed in 1991 and 1997 about spousal abuse. In 1997, they also were asked about their mental health, substance use and parenting practices. Daughters were interviewed in 1997 about their mother's parenting style and again in 1999 about their own adjustment and development of problem behaviors. The findings demonstrate that women experiencing violence in their marital relationships in 1991 are likely to be involved in psychologically abusive relationships in 1997. Marital violence, psychological abuse, maternal psychopathology, and substance abuse significantly predict mother's parenting style. Maternal parenting style predicts the daughters' adjustment in 1999. Multiple problem behaviors emerged for girls living with spousal violence. Responsive parenting was found to be a protective factor against several problem behaviors for daughters. Maternal psychological abuse and substance use in 1997 were found to be risk factors for daughters' poor outcome in 1999. The clinical implications of the findings and future directions for research are discussed.