Undergraduate university students (N = 103) participated in a study of the relationship between t... more Undergraduate university students (N = 103) participated in a study of the relationship between test anxiety and the variables of trait anxiety, self-esteem, locus of control, mental ability, and gender. Results indicated bivariate associations between total test anxiety and the other measures except for mental ability. Further analyses revealed independent relationships between the "worry" component of test anxiety and the variables of trait anxiety, internality, chance, and mental ability. We also found independent associations between the "emotionality" aspect of test anxiety and the measures of trait anxiety and chance.
Two groups (n = 86) of university athletes (contact, no contact) and two matched groups (n = 86) ... more Two groups (n = 86) of university athletes (contact, no contact) and two matched groups (n = 86) of non-athletes completed the Eysenck Personality Inventory (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1968). Extraversion did not vary significantly between athletes and non-athletes or between contact and no contact athletes, but it was higher for athletes compared to American college norms. For neuroticism, athletes scored significantly lower than non-athletes. Because neither extraversion or neuroticism changed over time (four years of study), these results are consistent with the gravitational hypothesis that people higher in extraversion and lower in neuroticism are attracted to university sports.
The present study of diachronous ratings of subjective well-being (SWB) was modeled on research u... more The present study of diachronous ratings of subjective well-being (SWB) was modeled on research undertaken by Staudinger, Bluck & Herzberg (2003). In addition, we were interested in determining the effects of culture and context (where one lives) on SWB ratings. To gage these effects, we included the factor of mother tongue and altered the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire by adding a question concerning expected well-being in Quebec. We asked 350 Anglophones and Francophones from the Eastern Townships, aged 18 to 95, to rate their SWB in the past, present, future, and future ‘in Quebec’. The results concerning the effects of chronological age on diachronistic SWB ratings followed the patterns of previous research: young people (aged 18–38) rate past SWB lower than present SWB and future SWB much higher; middle-aged people (aged 39–64) rate their SWB the same regardless of time; And the elderly (67–95) rated past SWB higher than the present and their future SWB much lower. There were ...
Journal of Interpersonal Relations, Intergroup Relations and Identity
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between intellectual abilities and perso... more The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between intellectual abilities and personality in predicting intelligent behaviour, operationalized as good decision-making practices. This examination considers certain personal characteristics that are hypothesized to lead to intelligent behaviour, namely personality, emotional intelligence and subjective well-being. The study aims at understanding how such personal characteristics influence decision making. It was hypothesized that the relationship between intellectual abilities and decision making would be mediated or moderated by the personal characteristics mentioned previously. Ninety-seven participants took tests that assessed these factors. The analysis of the data revealed no significant correlation between intellectual abilities and decision making, nor was there a correlation between any of the personality factors and decision making or intelligence. It is suspected that the homogeneous sample did not allow for eno...
One hundred and fifteen college and university students participated in a study of the relationsh... more One hundred and fifteen college and university students participated in a study of the relationship between perceived style of dress (casual, athletic, fashionable) and social distance. Results of an analysis of variance showed that, independent of their own preferred dress style, respondents reported the greatest social distance between themselves and others who dressed in an athletic style. Furthermore, it was found that men generally perceived greater social distance than did women. In social interactions, people occasionally form impressions of others on the basis of minimal evidence. In such cases, they go beyond observed behaviour to infer qualities they believe the others are likely to possess, and form stereotypes. In stereotyping, individuals are grouped together indiscriminately on the basis of some noticeable characteristic such as skin colour, ethnic background, or religious preference, and treated as if they possessed other qualities common to that group. Of course, ste...
To investigate the relationship between athletic participation and off-field hostile aggression, ... more To investigate the relationship between athletic participation and off-field hostile aggression, Buss and Perry's (1992) Aggression Questionnaire (AQ) was completed by two groups of 86 university athletes in either contact or no contact sports and two control groups of 86 non-athletes who were matched to the athletes in physical size. In general, bigger participants scored higher on hostile aggression and reported more fighting than smaller participants, but athletes and nonathletes did not differ. These results contradict the learning and catharsis theories of aggression in sport, and undermine the media image of the belligerent off-field athlete.
Two groups (n = 86) of university athletes (contact, no contact) and two matched groups (n = 86) ... more Two groups (n = 86) of university athletes (contact, no contact) and two matched groups (n = 86) of non-athletes completed the Eysenck Personality Inventory (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1968). Extraversion did not vary significantly between athletes and non-athletes or between contact and no contact athletes, but it was higher for athletes compared to American college norms. For neuroticism, athletes scored significantly lower than non-athletes. Because neither extraversion or neuroticism changed over time (four years of study), these results are consistent with the gravitational hypothesis that people higher in extraversion and lower in neuroticism are attracted to university sports.
This study examines subjective ratings of health (SRH) by Francophones and Anglophones living in ... more This study examines subjective ratings of health (SRH) by Francophones and Anglophones living in the Eastern Townships. Global self-ratings of health are regarded as sensitive predictors of future health states, mortality, functional decline and disability, and utilization of the health-care system. Yet despite their pragmatic value, SRH are poorly understood. Along with a spontaneous monitoring of present health states, culture and language are listed as determinants of SRH. Few studies exist, however, that clearly delineate the direction and degree of effect that culture and language have on SRH. Adopting a temporal assessment of SRH, we asked 358 Anglophones (N=176) and Francophones (N=171) from the Eastern Townships, aged 18 to 95, to rate their health in the past, present, and future. To isolate culture and language effects we also asked participants to rate their future health if they “remained in Quebec”. Results revealed a significant interaction between age and temporal rat...
Some studies suggest that religion is becoming a salient marker of immigrant identity. The protec... more Some studies suggest that religion is becoming a salient marker of immigrant identity. The protective impulse by western democracies to defend secularism can thus act as a barrier to immigrant integration. Given its legislative stance on secularism, Quebec affords a unique opportunity to study the interplay of attitudes and political culture on host community openness to cultural diversity. Surveying 395 south-eastern Quebec mother-tongue French and English participants, we found that though the former deemed ethnic and religious targets as more open to close social contact than the latter, they were less accommodating of diversity. Their perceptions of religious target openness overshadowed their views of ethnic targets, thereby registering less accommodating attitudes while confirming their perception of religion as a salient marker of immigrant diversity. Contextualizing a social-psychological analysis of attitudes toward immigration seems relevant when seen through two linguisti...
One hundred and fifteen college and university students participated in a study of the relationsh... more One hundred and fifteen college and university students participated in a study of the relationship between perceived style of dress (casual, athletic, fashionable) and social distance. Results of an analysis of variance showed that, independent of their own preferred dress style, respondents reported the greatest social distance between themselves and others who dressed in an athletic style. Furthermore, it was found that men generally perceived greater social distance than did women. In social interactions, people occasionally form impressions of others on the basis of minimal evidence. In such cases, they go beyond observed behaviour to infer qualities they believe the others are likely to possess, and form stereotypes. In stereotyping, individuals are grouped together indiscriminately on the basis of some noticeable characteristic such as skin colour, ethnic background, or religious preference, and treated as if they possessed other qualities common to that group. Of course, stereotyping is not restricted to racially, ethnically, or religiously prejudiced people; other distinctions such as body build, physical or mental disability, mental illness, occupation, hair colour, and style of dress, may also serve as the basis for stereotyping (Wallace, 1971). When a stereotype is negative, the persons affected may become the object of prejudice. This prejudice, in turn, increases social distance (Bryan, Coleman, Ganong, & Bryan, 1986). One group that for years has been susceptible to stereotyping on college and university campuses is student-athletes. Fellow students and faculty tend to waver from being enthusiastic fans to holding disdainful stereotypes of this group (e.g., Adler & Adler, 1985; Blinde & Taub, 1992; Edwards, 1984; Elman & McKelvie, 2003; Engstrom & Sedlacek, 1991, 1993; Engstrom, Sedlacek, & McEwen, 1995; Hamilton & Trolier, 1986; Lapchick, 2000; Sellers, 1992; Shriberg & Brodzinski, 1984; Zingg, 1982). These include assumptions that athletes are "dumb jocks" who have a literacy problem and rob university admission slots from academically deserving peers. They are narcissistic, demand privileges, are socially inept, and lack contact with the campus community. They fight during games, in bars, and on campus. They have a problem with drugs and alcohol abuse. The males are perpetrators of sexual aggression and the females are mannish, failed heterosexuals. Although these perceptions do not necessarily reflect reality (Lapchick, 2000), they persist and suggest that many students hold negative attitudes toward their athletic peers. The present study addressed the question whether or not negative attitudes towards athletes generalize to other people (not necessarily athletes) who dress in a sportive fashion (i.e., clothing of or related to sports), with the result that others perceive a greater social distance between themselves and those wearing such attire. Human beings appear to have a natural inclination to form groups; they value membership in some groups (in-groups: groups one belongs to and identifies with) and avoid membership in others (out-groups: groups one does not belong to or identify with). They want to be perceived by others as belonging to a particular group and adopt symbols of that group in order to be recognized as such. One of these symbols is style of dress. Satrapa, Melhado, Coelho, Otta, Taubemblatt, and Siqueira (1992) noted that people choose their clothes while keeping their social meaning in mind. Dress style conveys information not only about such matters as age, gender, personality traits, socioeconomic status, values, and political ideologies, but also about interpersonal attitudes such as aggressiveness, gracefulness, arrogance, and so forth. Dion, Bersheid, and Walster (1972) suggested that if there is an association between individuals' internal characteristics and their appearances, then there are stereotypes about personal characteristics based on appearance. …
Undergraduate university students (N = 103) participated in a study of the relationship between t... more Undergraduate university students (N = 103) participated in a study of the relationship between test anxiety and the variables of trait anxiety, self-esteem, locus of control, mental ability, and gender. Results indicated bivariate associations between total test anxiety and the other measures except for mental ability. Further analyses revealed independent relationships between the "worry" component of test anxiety and the variables of trait anxiety, internality, chance, and mental ability. We also found independent associations between the "emotionality" aspect of test anxiety and the measures of trait anxiety and chance.
Two groups (n = 86) of university athletes (contact, no contact) and two matched groups (n = 86) ... more Two groups (n = 86) of university athletes (contact, no contact) and two matched groups (n = 86) of non-athletes completed the Eysenck Personality Inventory (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1968). Extraversion did not vary significantly between athletes and non-athletes or between contact and no contact athletes, but it was higher for athletes compared to American college norms. For neuroticism, athletes scored significantly lower than non-athletes. Because neither extraversion or neuroticism changed over time (four years of study), these results are consistent with the gravitational hypothesis that people higher in extraversion and lower in neuroticism are attracted to university sports.
The present study of diachronous ratings of subjective well-being (SWB) was modeled on research u... more The present study of diachronous ratings of subjective well-being (SWB) was modeled on research undertaken by Staudinger, Bluck & Herzberg (2003). In addition, we were interested in determining the effects of culture and context (where one lives) on SWB ratings. To gage these effects, we included the factor of mother tongue and altered the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire by adding a question concerning expected well-being in Quebec. We asked 350 Anglophones and Francophones from the Eastern Townships, aged 18 to 95, to rate their SWB in the past, present, future, and future ‘in Quebec’. The results concerning the effects of chronological age on diachronistic SWB ratings followed the patterns of previous research: young people (aged 18–38) rate past SWB lower than present SWB and future SWB much higher; middle-aged people (aged 39–64) rate their SWB the same regardless of time; And the elderly (67–95) rated past SWB higher than the present and their future SWB much lower. There were ...
Journal of Interpersonal Relations, Intergroup Relations and Identity
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between intellectual abilities and perso... more The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between intellectual abilities and personality in predicting intelligent behaviour, operationalized as good decision-making practices. This examination considers certain personal characteristics that are hypothesized to lead to intelligent behaviour, namely personality, emotional intelligence and subjective well-being. The study aims at understanding how such personal characteristics influence decision making. It was hypothesized that the relationship between intellectual abilities and decision making would be mediated or moderated by the personal characteristics mentioned previously. Ninety-seven participants took tests that assessed these factors. The analysis of the data revealed no significant correlation between intellectual abilities and decision making, nor was there a correlation between any of the personality factors and decision making or intelligence. It is suspected that the homogeneous sample did not allow for eno...
One hundred and fifteen college and university students participated in a study of the relationsh... more One hundred and fifteen college and university students participated in a study of the relationship between perceived style of dress (casual, athletic, fashionable) and social distance. Results of an analysis of variance showed that, independent of their own preferred dress style, respondents reported the greatest social distance between themselves and others who dressed in an athletic style. Furthermore, it was found that men generally perceived greater social distance than did women. In social interactions, people occasionally form impressions of others on the basis of minimal evidence. In such cases, they go beyond observed behaviour to infer qualities they believe the others are likely to possess, and form stereotypes. In stereotyping, individuals are grouped together indiscriminately on the basis of some noticeable characteristic such as skin colour, ethnic background, or religious preference, and treated as if they possessed other qualities common to that group. Of course, ste...
To investigate the relationship between athletic participation and off-field hostile aggression, ... more To investigate the relationship between athletic participation and off-field hostile aggression, Buss and Perry's (1992) Aggression Questionnaire (AQ) was completed by two groups of 86 university athletes in either contact or no contact sports and two control groups of 86 non-athletes who were matched to the athletes in physical size. In general, bigger participants scored higher on hostile aggression and reported more fighting than smaller participants, but athletes and nonathletes did not differ. These results contradict the learning and catharsis theories of aggression in sport, and undermine the media image of the belligerent off-field athlete.
Two groups (n = 86) of university athletes (contact, no contact) and two matched groups (n = 86) ... more Two groups (n = 86) of university athletes (contact, no contact) and two matched groups (n = 86) of non-athletes completed the Eysenck Personality Inventory (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1968). Extraversion did not vary significantly between athletes and non-athletes or between contact and no contact athletes, but it was higher for athletes compared to American college norms. For neuroticism, athletes scored significantly lower than non-athletes. Because neither extraversion or neuroticism changed over time (four years of study), these results are consistent with the gravitational hypothesis that people higher in extraversion and lower in neuroticism are attracted to university sports.
This study examines subjective ratings of health (SRH) by Francophones and Anglophones living in ... more This study examines subjective ratings of health (SRH) by Francophones and Anglophones living in the Eastern Townships. Global self-ratings of health are regarded as sensitive predictors of future health states, mortality, functional decline and disability, and utilization of the health-care system. Yet despite their pragmatic value, SRH are poorly understood. Along with a spontaneous monitoring of present health states, culture and language are listed as determinants of SRH. Few studies exist, however, that clearly delineate the direction and degree of effect that culture and language have on SRH. Adopting a temporal assessment of SRH, we asked 358 Anglophones (N=176) and Francophones (N=171) from the Eastern Townships, aged 18 to 95, to rate their health in the past, present, and future. To isolate culture and language effects we also asked participants to rate their future health if they “remained in Quebec”. Results revealed a significant interaction between age and temporal rat...
Some studies suggest that religion is becoming a salient marker of immigrant identity. The protec... more Some studies suggest that religion is becoming a salient marker of immigrant identity. The protective impulse by western democracies to defend secularism can thus act as a barrier to immigrant integration. Given its legislative stance on secularism, Quebec affords a unique opportunity to study the interplay of attitudes and political culture on host community openness to cultural diversity. Surveying 395 south-eastern Quebec mother-tongue French and English participants, we found that though the former deemed ethnic and religious targets as more open to close social contact than the latter, they were less accommodating of diversity. Their perceptions of religious target openness overshadowed their views of ethnic targets, thereby registering less accommodating attitudes while confirming their perception of religion as a salient marker of immigrant diversity. Contextualizing a social-psychological analysis of attitudes toward immigration seems relevant when seen through two linguisti...
One hundred and fifteen college and university students participated in a study of the relationsh... more One hundred and fifteen college and university students participated in a study of the relationship between perceived style of dress (casual, athletic, fashionable) and social distance. Results of an analysis of variance showed that, independent of their own preferred dress style, respondents reported the greatest social distance between themselves and others who dressed in an athletic style. Furthermore, it was found that men generally perceived greater social distance than did women. In social interactions, people occasionally form impressions of others on the basis of minimal evidence. In such cases, they go beyond observed behaviour to infer qualities they believe the others are likely to possess, and form stereotypes. In stereotyping, individuals are grouped together indiscriminately on the basis of some noticeable characteristic such as skin colour, ethnic background, or religious preference, and treated as if they possessed other qualities common to that group. Of course, stereotyping is not restricted to racially, ethnically, or religiously prejudiced people; other distinctions such as body build, physical or mental disability, mental illness, occupation, hair colour, and style of dress, may also serve as the basis for stereotyping (Wallace, 1971). When a stereotype is negative, the persons affected may become the object of prejudice. This prejudice, in turn, increases social distance (Bryan, Coleman, Ganong, & Bryan, 1986). One group that for years has been susceptible to stereotyping on college and university campuses is student-athletes. Fellow students and faculty tend to waver from being enthusiastic fans to holding disdainful stereotypes of this group (e.g., Adler & Adler, 1985; Blinde & Taub, 1992; Edwards, 1984; Elman & McKelvie, 2003; Engstrom & Sedlacek, 1991, 1993; Engstrom, Sedlacek, & McEwen, 1995; Hamilton & Trolier, 1986; Lapchick, 2000; Sellers, 1992; Shriberg & Brodzinski, 1984; Zingg, 1982). These include assumptions that athletes are "dumb jocks" who have a literacy problem and rob university admission slots from academically deserving peers. They are narcissistic, demand privileges, are socially inept, and lack contact with the campus community. They fight during games, in bars, and on campus. They have a problem with drugs and alcohol abuse. The males are perpetrators of sexual aggression and the females are mannish, failed heterosexuals. Although these perceptions do not necessarily reflect reality (Lapchick, 2000), they persist and suggest that many students hold negative attitudes toward their athletic peers. The present study addressed the question whether or not negative attitudes towards athletes generalize to other people (not necessarily athletes) who dress in a sportive fashion (i.e., clothing of or related to sports), with the result that others perceive a greater social distance between themselves and those wearing such attire. Human beings appear to have a natural inclination to form groups; they value membership in some groups (in-groups: groups one belongs to and identifies with) and avoid membership in others (out-groups: groups one does not belong to or identify with). They want to be perceived by others as belonging to a particular group and adopt symbols of that group in order to be recognized as such. One of these symbols is style of dress. Satrapa, Melhado, Coelho, Otta, Taubemblatt, and Siqueira (1992) noted that people choose their clothes while keeping their social meaning in mind. Dress style conveys information not only about such matters as age, gender, personality traits, socioeconomic status, values, and political ideologies, but also about interpersonal attitudes such as aggressiveness, gracefulness, arrogance, and so forth. Dion, Bersheid, and Walster (1972) suggested that if there is an association between individuals' internal characteristics and their appearances, then there are stereotypes about personal characteristics based on appearance. …
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Papers by Dale Stout