The issue of Americans’ levels of narcissism is subject to lively debate. The focus of the present research is on the perception of national character (PNC) of Americans as a group. In Study 1, American adults (N = 100) rated Americans as signficantly more narcissistic than they perceived themselves and acquaintances. In Study 2, this finding was replicated with American college students (N = 322). PNC ratings of personality traits and externalizing behaviors revealed that Americans are perceived as disagreeable and antisocial as well. In Study 3, we examined the broader characteristics associated with PNC ratings (N =183). Americans rated the typical American as average on a variety of characteristics (e.g. wealth, education, health, likability) and PNC ratings of narcissism were largely unrelated to these ratings. In Study 4 (N = 733), citizens of four other world regions (Basque Country, China, England, Turkey) rated members of their own region as more narcissistic than they perceived themselves, but the effect sizes were smaller than those found in the case of Americans’ perceptions of Americans. Additionally, members of these other regions rated Americans as more narcissistic than members of their own region. Finally, in Study 5, participants from around the world (N = 377) rated Americans as more narcissistic, extraverted, and antagonistic than members of their own countries. We discuss the role that America’s position as a global economic and military power, paired with a culture that creates and reifies celebrity figures, may play in leading to perceptions of Americans as considerably narcissistic.

There has been much debate surrounding the potential benefits and costs of online interaction. The present research argues that engagement with online discussion forums can have underappreciated benefits for users’ well-being and engagement in offline civic action, and that identification with other online forum users plays a key role in this regard. Users of a variety of online discussion forums participated in this study. We hypothesized and found that participants who felt their expectations had been exceeded by the forum reported higher levels of forum identification. Identification, in turn, predicted their satisfaction with life and involvement in offline civic activities. Formal analyses confirmed that identification served as a mediator for both of these outcomes. Importantly, whether the forum concerned a stigmatized topic moderated certain of these relationships. Findings are discussed in the context of theoretical and applied implications.

Purpose: the present research investigated parental attitudes towards using either cloth or disposable nappies, to better understand whether and how pro-cloth initiatives might impact parental decisions.
Design/Methodology/Approach: Focus groups were conducted with both cloth and disposable nappy users to gain a better understanding of the factors that underlie their choice. Interviews were analyzed using Thematic Analysis.
Findings: Parents using disposable nappies believed they were marketed as offering a popular, efficient, healthy, good value system. They acknowledged the environmental impact but rationalised this by referring to (a) the equivocal nature of these consequences, and (b) the ability to off-set this by engaging in other pro-environment behaviours. Parents choosing cloth nappies did so initially because they were more environment-friendly and cost-effective and disposables were disliked. Once using cloth, parents noted additional benefits: performance, fashion, formation of bonds with other users, and getting a buzz out of using them. This reinforced their reasons for continued use.
Practical implications: Cloth nappies are unlikely to gain mass appeal, but findings suggest a bigger take up if parents are better informed, and subsidies are provided to reduce set-up and laundering costs to tackle the ‘ease of use’ barrier. The positive aspects of cloth nappies should be better promoted.
Social implications: Marketing initiatives need to buy into the current ‘designer parents’ trend and play to the aspirational, fashionable aspects of cloth nappies.
Originality/value: This paper, the first to report on parental attitudes and decisions regarding both nappy types, could inform public policy and marketing decisions.

Abstract

Purpose – Provides clear guidelines to diversity training practitioners to help to improve assessment of training. Encourages cross-talk between academics and practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach – Reviews some of the research on the benefits versus costs of diversity training assessment and generates five core principles to help practitioners to identify and exploit assessment opportunities.

Findings – Reveals that most diversity training initiatives are neither routinely nor systematically assessed, in spite of there being clear business benefits from doing so, such as improved diversity management, enhanced organizational efficacy and increased responsiveness to diversity needs. Suggests reasons for the lack of assessment, such as lack of an obvious pay-off for business, suspicion and fear of what assessment might reveal, and lack of experience among practitioners of how to optimally assess their initiatives. Provides five core principles to guide practitioners through the process of assessment: deriving testable hypotheses; obtaining baseline data or using naturally occurring control groups to get an index of change; ensuring assessment measures appropriately tap goals of training and training, itself; considering short and longer term assessment approaches and taking into account the wider organizational context.

Practical implications – Enables diversity training practitioners to engage with the process of assessment, a topic that receives very little attention in spite of the widespread use of diversity training as a means of enhancing diversity management.

Social Implications – Discusses an important problem: the lack of systematic appraisal of diversity training. Better assessment techniques will lead to more accurate knowledge about diversity training outcomes which will, in the long run, enhance diversity management.

Originality/value – Bridges the gap between the academic work on this topic and practitioners’ needs for clearly articulated ideas to help them put theory and research about assessment into practice.

Article type – Conceptual/review paper

Keyword(s) – Diversity training; Assessment; Evaluation

Many languages employ metaphors that associate temporal constructs with locations in space (e.g. back in the old days). However, whether such space-time mappings extend beyond the
linguistic domain has received little empirical attention. Noting that motor action represents a pathway through which the integration of spatial and temporal information can be revealed, the current work examined the dynamics of hand movements during a time-classification task. Results revealed that
when participants were instructed to process information pertaining to the past (or future), their movements were drawn towards the left (or right). This affirms that spatiotemporal processing is grounded in the sensory-motor systems that regulate human movement.

The issue of Americans’ levels of narcissism is subject to lively debate. The focus of the present research is on the perception of national character (PNC) of Americans as a group. In Study 1, American adults (N = 100) rated Americans as signficantly more narcissistic than they perceived themselves and acquaintances. In Study 2, this finding was replicated with American college students (N = 322). PNC ratings of personality traits and externalizing behaviors revealed that Americans are perceived as disagreeable and antisocial as well. In Study 3, we examined the broader characteristics associated with PNC ratings (N =183). Americans rated the typical American as average on a variety of characteristics (e.g. wealth, education, health, likability) and PNC ratings of narcissism were largely unrelated to these ratings. In Study 4 (N = 733), citizens of four other world regions (Basque Country, China, England, Turkey) rated members of their own region as more narcissistic than they perceived themselves, but the effect sizes were smaller than those found in the case of Americans’ perceptions of Americans. Additionally, members of these other regions rated Americans as more narcissistic than members of their own region. Finally, in Study 5, participants from around the world (N = 377) rated Americans as more narcissistic, extraverted, and antagonistic than members of their own countries. We discuss the role that America’s position as a global economic and military power, paired with a culture that creates and reifies celebrity figures, may play in leading to perceptions of Americans as considerably narcissistic.

As women age they can be subject to both sexism and ageism, and consequently be stereotyped as low in competence and irrelevant despite having a relatively young subjective age. Drawing on theories of stigma, we conducted a survey study of older women (N = 184) with a strong interest in fashion and their visual image. We used template thematic analysis to understand their experiences in relation to their age-changed appearance. Two major themes were identified: unfavourable experiences of ageism and efforts to evade these experiences through attention to appearance. Our participants employed masquerade to conceal or reduce the visible evidence of their age-both to avoid ageism and to align their outward appearance more closely with their inner, felt, authentic selves. We interrogate the benefits and penalties of concealment for a group whose stigmatised condition is dynamic, changing as their appearance grows increasingly dissimilar to societally favoured youthfulness. Masquerade may for this group of women produce more positive than negative outcomes, via effects on felt authenticity.

There has been much debate surrounding the potential benefits and costs of online interaction. The present research argues that engagement with online discussion forums can have underappreciated benefits for users’ well-being and engagement in offline civic action, and that identification with other online forum users plays a key role in this regard. Users of a variety of online discussion forums participated in this study. We hypothesized and found that participants who felt their expectations had been exceeded by the forum reported higher levels of forum identification. Identification, in turn, predicted their satisfaction with life and involvement in offline civic activities. Formal analyses confirmed that identification served as a mediator for both of these outcomes. Importantly, whether the forum concerned a stigmatized topic moderated certain of these relationships. Findings are discussed in the context of theoretical and applied implications.

Purpose: the present research investigated parental attitudes towards using either cloth or disposable nappies, to better understand whether and how pro-cloth initiatives might impact parental decisions.
Design/Methodology/Approach: Focus groups were conducted with both cloth and disposable nappy users to gain a better understanding of the factors that underlie their choice. Interviews were analyzed using Thematic Analysis.
Findings: Parents using disposable nappies believed they were marketed as offering a popular, efficient, healthy, good value system. They acknowledged the environmental impact but rationalised this by referring to (a) the equivocal nature of these consequences, and (b) the ability to off-set this by engaging in other pro-environment behaviours. Parents choosing cloth nappies did so initially because they were more environment-friendly and cost-effective and disposables were disliked. Once using cloth, parents noted additional benefits: performance, fashion, formation of bonds with other users, and getting a buzz out of using them. This reinforced their reasons for continued use.
Practical implications: Cloth nappies are unlikely to gain mass appeal, but findings suggest a bigger take up if parents are better informed, and subsidies are provided to reduce set-up and laundering costs to tackle the ‘ease of use’ barrier. The positive aspects of cloth nappies should be better promoted.
Social implications: Marketing initiatives need to buy into the current ‘designer parents’ trend and play to the aspirational, fashionable aspects of cloth nappies.
Originality/value: This paper, the first to report on parental attitudes and decisions regarding both nappy types, could inform public policy and marketing decisions.

Abstract

Purpose – Provides clear guidelines to diversity training practitioners to help to improve assessment of training. Encourages cross-talk between academics and practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach – Reviews some of the research on the benefits versus costs of diversity training assessment and generates five core principles to help practitioners to identify and exploit assessment opportunities.

Findings – Reveals that most diversity training initiatives are neither routinely nor systematically assessed, in spite of there being clear business benefits from doing so, such as improved diversity management, enhanced organizational efficacy and increased responsiveness to diversity needs. Suggests reasons for the lack of assessment, such as lack of an obvious pay-off for business, suspicion and fear of what assessment might reveal, and lack of experience among practitioners of how to optimally assess their initiatives. Provides five core principles to guide practitioners through the process of assessment: deriving testable hypotheses; obtaining baseline data or using naturally occurring control groups to get an index of change; ensuring assessment measures appropriately tap goals of training and training, itself; considering short and longer term assessment approaches and taking into account the wider organizational context.

Practical implications – Enables diversity training practitioners to engage with the process of assessment, a topic that receives very little attention in spite of the widespread use of diversity training as a means of enhancing diversity management.

Social Implications – Discusses an important problem: the lack of systematic appraisal of diversity training. Better assessment techniques will lead to more accurate knowledge about diversity training outcomes which will, in the long run, enhance diversity management.

Originality/value – Bridges the gap between the academic work on this topic and practitioners’ needs for clearly articulated ideas to help them put theory and research about assessment into practice.

Article type – Conceptual/review paper

Keyword(s) – Diversity training; Assessment; Evaluation

Many languages employ metaphors that associate temporal constructs with locations in space (e.g. back in the old days). However, whether such space-time mappings extend beyond the
linguistic domain has received little empirical attention. Noting that motor action represents a pathway through which the integration of spatial and temporal information can be revealed, the current work examined the dynamics of hand movements during a time-classification task. Results revealed that
when participants were instructed to process information pertaining to the past (or future), their movements were drawn towards the left (or right). This affirms that spatiotemporal processing is grounded in the sensory-motor systems that regulate human movement.

Many languages employ metaphors that associate temporal constructs with locations in space (e.g. back in the old days). However, whether such space-time mappings extend beyond the linguistic domain has received little empirical attention. Noting that motor action represents a pathway through which the integration of spatial and temporal information can be revealed, the current work examined the dynamics of hand movements during a time-classification task. Results revealed that when participants were instructed to process information pertaining to the past (or future), their movements were drawn towards the left (or right). This affirms that spatiotemporal processing is grounded in the sensory-motor systems that regulate human movement. © 2010 the Experimental Psychology Society.

It has been shown that prior exposure to words associated with an elderly stereotype slows down the rate at which participants walk to an elevator upon leaving the laboratory (Bargh, Chen, & Burrows, 1996). Yet neuropsychological evidence suggests that simple motor actions should not be influenced by such a prime. We investigated the effects of an elderly prime on a different type of simple action: a. reaching and grasping task. This task was chosen because particular emphasis can be placed on where the effects of an elderly stereotype prime lie within the overall action sequence. The results showed that relative duration of the gaps in between ballistic actions increased compared with the relative duration of the actions themselves, slowing down part of the action sequence. This work therefore effectively reconciles apparently conflicting accounts of how a stereotype prime can affect action.

Good quality research to study behaviour in the sun is needed in the UK to ensure that we can develop the most effective methods for ultimately reducing the incidence of skin cancer. Many initiatives have taken place during the past two decades to reduce the level of sun exposure. However, there have been relatively few studies to evaluate the impact of these initiatives on behaviour and health. This review summarises outcome measures of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour and of clinical signs of sun damage. The results of evaluation studies show that adolescents are a group resistant to change. Initiatives should focus on families with young children. Targeting holiday makers at the time of departure also proved to be ineffective. Future research should aim to monitor changes in behaviour in the general population, and to study changes among target groups using standardised methods. The costs of different interventions should be compared.

To ensure effective primary prevention of skin cancer, aimed at changing behaviour in the sun, and ultimately at reducing the incidence and mortality rates from skin cancer, sufficient information needs to be known about the relationship between sun exposure and skin cancer, the effectiveness of sun protection measures, and the acceptability and uptake of protective measures by the general public. This review specifically addresses the quality and outcome of studies designed to evaluate the impact of primary prevention initiatives in the U.K. Four main areas of concern are highlighted: (i) teenage behaviour in the sun is difficult to change; (ii) fashion, in part, dictates adult and adolescent behaviour in the sun; (iii) there are practical problems related to response rates, follow-up and interpretation of self-reported behaviour; and (iv) a strategy for primary prevention in the U.K. may be falsely based on the experience and results of Australian and American programmes. Standardized methods for monitoring general population behaviour are needed in the U.K. Evaluation of interventions targeting specific groups, especially parents and young children, and the relative costs of different strategies should be reported. Primary prevention messages and strategies should be adapted to the type of ultraviolet radiation exposure experienced, and the overall low risk of melanoma, while addressing controversies on the health effects of sun exposure and sun screens.

The feasibility of targeted screening for cutaneous malignant melanoma in the UK using a postal questionnaire and invitation to screening by a consultant dermatologist was investigated in a population based cross-sectional survey. A total of 1600 people aged 25-69 years, stratified by the social deprivation score of wards within one general practice, were randomly selected from a population of 8000.1227 (77%) returned the questionnaire and 896 (56%) attended the screening clinic. Uptake was lower for men (P < 0.001), those aged under 50 (P < 0.001), people from deprived areas (P < 0.001) and skin types III and IV (men only, P < 0.001). Twenty per cent of women and 10% of men felt nervous about attending the clinic, but only 4% were worried by the questionnaire. The level of agreement between the self- and dermatologist's assessments of risk factors was best for hair colour (Kappa = 0.67, sensitivity 73% and specificity 98%). People tended to under-report their level of risk. Over 95% knew about at least one major sign, but 54% reported incorrect signs of melanoma. Targeted screening for melanoma in the UK will be hampered by difficulties in accurately identifying the target population. Strategies to improve skin self-awareness rather than screening should be developed and evaluated.

The feasibility of targeted screening for cutaneous malignant melanoma in the UK using a postal questionnaire and invitation to screening by a consultant dermatologist was investigated in a population based cross-sectional survey. A total of 1600 people aged 25-69 years, stratified by the social deprivation score of wards within one general practice, were randomly selected from a population of 8000.1227 (77%) returned the questionnaire and 896 (56%) attended the screening clinic. Uptake was lower for men (P

Objectives-To study the feasibility of developing targeted screening for those at high risk of melanoma by examining how attitudes relate to (a) acceptance of an invitation for a free skin check and (b) self assessed and clinically assessed risk factors for developing cutaneous melanoma.

Design-A population based cross sectional survey.

Setting-A general practice with a broad mix of socioeconomic groups in one district health authority.

Subjects-A total of 1600 subjects aged 25-69 years stratified using the social deprivation score of wards were randomly selected from a population of 8000; 77% (1227) returned the questionnaire and 56% (896) attended for screening.

Main outcome measures-questionnaire measures of confidence in own ability to self assess risk factors for melanoma, attitudes to seeking medical help for skin abnormalities, and self assessment of relative risk of developing melanoma.

Results-Clinic attenders were less confident in their ability to self assess risk factors (p

OBJECTIVES: to study the feasibility of developing targeted screening for those at high risk of melanoma by examining how attitudes relate to (a) acceptance of an invitation for a free skin check and (b) self assessed and clinically assessed risk factors for developing cutaneous melanoma. DESIGN: a population based cross sectional survey. SETTING: a general practice with a broad mix of socioeconomic groups in one district health authority. SUBJECTS: a total of 1600 subjects aged 25-69 years stratified using the social deprivation score of wards were randomly selected from a population of 8000; 77% (1227) returned the questionnaire and 56% (896) attended for screening. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Questionnaire measures of confidence in own ability to self assess risk factors for melanoma, attitudes to seeking medical help for skin abnormalities, and self assessment of relative risk of developing melanoma. RESULTS: Clinic attenders were less confident in their ability to self assess risk factors (p

This study investigated the effects of resource depletion on stereotyping. Participants were instructed to form an impression of a target, and whilst performing this task, they overhead a tape-recorded conversation. The conversation was manipulated so that it it was more or less relevant to the participants. Results in general supported the prediction that when participants eavesdrop on a relevant conversation, attentional capacity will be diminished, and target evaluations will be stereotypic in implication. Findings are discussed in terms of contemporary treatments after of stereotyping.

Previous research has suggested that initial categorization of a target is a rapid, automatic process that occurs relatively independently of attentional and motivational factors. Further processing requires both perceiver interest in the target and sufficient attentional resources. The present study investigated the effects of information-processing goals on the categorization process. With one of three information-processing goals in place-accountability to a third party, estimation of the target's height of inspection of the videotape clarity-subjects watched a videotape of a businesswoman. Target categorization was measured using a lexical decision task. The results demonstrated that whereas subjects in all conditions categorized the target at a superordinate level (i.e. woman), accountable subjects also categorized the target at a more differentiated subtype level (i.e. businesswoman). The authors consider these findings in the context of contemporary model of stereotyping and impression formation.

Three experiments investigating the effects of cognitive and motivational factors on stereotype change are reported Trait ratings in all three experiments showed there to be greater stereotype-change when stereotype-inconsistent information was dispersed across many group members than when it was concentrated in only a few. A sorting task (Experiment 1) indicated that, in the concentrated conditions the stereotype disconfirmers were more strongly isolated from the rest of the group than in the dispersed conditions. Free recall protocols (Experiment 2) showed greater memory for the target exemplars when subjects anticipated interaction with a group member than when no interaction was anticipated the questions subject chose to ask target group exemplars were also influenced by anticipated future interaction. Subjects chose more stereotype-inconsistent questions when interaction was anticipated than when no interaction was anticipated Experiment 3 showed the impact of stereotype-inconsistent information to be greater when expectancies for the stereotyped group are weaker. A cued-recall task yielded evidence of spontaneous subtyping.

Two experiments investigated the effects of information-processing goals and attentional capacity on subjects' impressions of a target. In Study 1, extending previous research in this area, both information-processing goals and a resource depleting task were manipulated simultaneously. It was predicted that, in contrast with outcome-independent subjects, subjects who were made outcome-dependent upon a woman would make individuated evaluations of her. This effect, however, was anticipated to be contingent upon the availability of attentional resources. Under conditions of cognitive busyness, it was predicted that both outcome-independent and -dependent subjects would view the woman in a relatively stereotyped (i.e. less individuating) manner. Our results supported this prediction. Resource depletion appeared to diminish subjects' ability to individuate the woman, even when they were motivated to view her in such a manner. Study 2 utilized a probe reaction task to investigate the differential demands processing goals impose upon perceivers' attentional capacity. In line with our predictions, outcome-dependent subjects used more cognitive resources when learning about a woman than comparable outcome-independent subjects. Taken together, these results demonstrate the dynamic interaction between cognitive and motivational factors in the determination of perceivers' impressions of others. We consider these findings in the wider context of models of stereotyping and social inference.