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Living in a Time of Change and Uncertainty—New Developments in Applied Social Psychology

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A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2024) | Viewed by 27244

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Phillip Ozimek

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Guest Editor

Research and Treatment Center for Mental Health (FBZ), Ruhr University Bochum, 44787 Bochum Germany
Interests: social media; applied social psychology; positive psychology; self-regulation; social comparison theory; well-being

Dr. Sabrina Schneider

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Guest Editor

Department of Personality, Forensic Psychology and Diagnostics, University of Hagen, 58097 Hagen, Germany
Interests: applied personality and social psychology; determinants of interpersonal relationship quality; individualism; narcissism; psychopathy; forensic psycholgoy; open science

Dr. Christian Blötner

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Guest Editor

Department of Personality, Forensic Psychology and Diagnostics, University of Hagen, 58097 Hagen, Germany
Interests: social personality psychology; Machiavellianism; scale development and evaluation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Applied social psychology represents the link between successful theories of social psychology and their application in everyday life, as well as their implementation in various professional fields. It also involves the use of psychological knowledge to optimize practice and solve problems effectively.

We live in a time of change and uncertainty. New developments, new technologies, but, also, new crises arise almost on a daily basis. In the context of this Special Issue, we would like to take a closer look at these new developments and crises in order to adress the roles of fundamental and applied theories of social psychology in this context.

For our forthcoming Special Issue we are looking for contributions that focus on developments and problems of the modern world examining them from a social psychological perspective. Such topics may include, for instance, social media, streaming services, climate change, political conflicts, radicalization, individualism, diversity, fear, and consequences of war, the COVID-19 pandemic, or the spread of misinformation. All topics that currently affect society are welcome.

Dr. Phillip Ozimek
Dr. Sabrina Schneider
Dr. Christian Blötner
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

applied social psychology
change
uncertainty
social media
streaming
climate change
COVID-19
misinformation
individualism
diversity

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2108 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social Understanding of Disability: Determinants and Levers for Action

by Ulysse Lecomte, Araceli de los Ríos Berjillos, Laetitia Lethielleux, Xavier Deroy and Maryline Thenot

Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 733; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14090733 - 23 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1154

Abstract

The prejudices often associated with the perception of people with disability can limit their access to the opportunities and resources available in society, leading them to live in a climate of great socio-economic uncertainty exacerbated since the COVID-19 pandemic. This research focuses on the perceptions of young people in France, defined as those aged between 18 and 30, towards people with disability. The study draws on the principles of social psychology to understand these perceptions, the factors that influence them and the most effective ways of promoting greater inclusion. A survey of 660 young people confirms that, despite recent progress, people with disabilities are still perceived as socially excluded. The results show that familiarity with disability, open-mindedness, the visibility of disability and the quality of interactions with people with disabilities have a strong influence on perceptions. To improve these perceptions, disability training and awareness raising are considered more effective than communication or positive discrimination measures. This research is the first to explore perceptions of disability among young people in France, with the potential to influence future behavior. It suggests ways to promote effective inclusive practices and support policies that encourage positive interactions with people with disabilities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Living in a Time of Change and Uncertainty—New Developments in Applied Social Psychology)

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23 pages, 1383 KiB

Open AccessArticle

I Do Not Want to Miss a Thing! Consequences of Employees’ Workplace Fear of Missing Out for ICT Use, Well-Being, and Recovery Experiences

by Linda-Elisabeth Reimann, Carmen Binnewies, Phillip Ozimek and Sophie Loose

Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14010008 - 22 Dec 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2950

Abstract

As more and more employees have access to work-related information and communication technologies (ICTs) anywhere and anytime, new challenges arise in terms of well-being and recovery experiences. Feelings of workplace fear of missing Out (wFoMO) and workplace telepressure may be personal demands that add to the literature of the job demands-resources (JD-R) theory. In this study, we proposed a model in which wFoMO and workplace telepressure were associated with employee well-being variables via the use of ICTs during leisure time. Therefore, we analyzed the data of N = 130 employees who answered two questionnaires in the interval of one work week. The results revealed negative indirect effects between wFoMO/workplace telepressure and psychological detachment/perceived stress via ICT use. The results were more ambivalent regarding the dependent variables burnout, relaxation, and control. This strengthens the literature that categorized ICT use as a job demand. However, we also found positive indirect effects on perceived informational benefits, which supports the idea of ICTs being both a job demand and a job resource in light of the JD-R theory. This study contributes to past research on work-related ICT use during leisure time and demonstrates the relevance of personal demands such as wFoMO for employees’ well-being. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Living in a Time of Change and Uncertainty—New Developments in Applied Social Psychology)

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16 pages, 1025 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The 10-Item Short Form of the German Experiences in Close Relationships Scale (ECR-G-10)—Model Fit, Reliability, and Validity

by Eva Neumann, Elke Rohmann and Heribert Sattel

Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(11), 935; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13110935 - 16 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1914

Abstract

The aim of the present work was the development and validation of a short form of the Experiences in Close Relationship Scale (ECR) in German. Three studies were conducted. In study 1, the best items for the short form were selected from the item pool of the original version based on ant colony optimization (ACO), a recently developed probabilistic approach. Data from three samples collected at a university, an online portal, and a psychosomatic clinic with a total of 1470 participants were analyzed. A 10-item solution resulted, measuring avoidance and anxiety with five items each. This solution showed a good model fit and acceptable reliability in all three samples. The two new short scales were independent of each other. In study 2, the 10-item solution was validated by correlating the new short scales with external criteria. Data from previous studies that included student, community, and clinical samples were reanalyzed. Both short scales showed expected correlations with measures of romantic relationships, personality, psychopathology, and childhood trauma, indicating convergent and discriminant validity. The significant correlations were moderate to strong. In study 3, the selected ten items alone and several content-related scales were presented online to 277 participants, most of them students. The good results in terms of model fit, reliability, and validity observed in studies 1 and 2 could be replicated here. The new short form, called ECR-G-10, allows the measurement of attachment avoidance and anxiety in an economic way in research and clinical practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Living in a Time of Change and Uncertainty—New Developments in Applied Social Psychology)

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18 pages, 6921 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Social Comparisons More Related to Ability vs. More Related to Opinion on Well-Being: An Instagram Study

by Phillip Ozimek, Gabriel Brandenberg, Elke Rohmann and Hans-Werner Bierhoff

Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(10), 850; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13100850 - 17 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2643

Abstract

Social networks are gaining widespread popularity, with Instagram currently being the most intensively used network. On these platforms, users are continuously exposed to self-relevant information that fosters social comparisons. A distinction is made between ability-based and opinion-based comparison dimensions. To experimentally investigate the influence of these comparison dimensions on users’ subjective well-being, an online exposure experiment (N = 409) was conducted. In a preliminary study (N = 107), valid exposure stimulus material was selected in advance. The results of the main study indicated that the exposure to ability-related social comparisons in the context of social media elicited lower well-being than exposure to opinion-related social comparisons. The theoretical and practical implications of this study consist of including the findings in clinical settings, e.g., affective disorder therapy, and the identification and reduction of ability-related content on social networking sites (SNSs). Future work should include assimilation and contrast effects which might interact with social comparison orientation and well-being. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Living in a Time of Change and Uncertainty—New Developments in Applied Social Psychology)

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18 pages, 1502 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Responsibility as an Ethics and Sustainability Element during the Pandemic

by Eugenia Țigan, Monica Lungu, Oana Brînzan, Radu Lucian Blaga, Ioana Anda Milin and Simona Gavrilaș

Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(7), 615; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13070615 - 24 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1442

Abstract

This article addresses two perspectives of responsibility: as an element of taking action and as ethics towards one’s fellow citizens and the environment. These aspects have been used since the beginning of the pandemic. In this context, we wanted to determine the mechanism that triggers increased responsibility. We have considered two possible initial processes: one external and one learned from the family in early childhood or trained/learned during studies. Based on that, three concerns were brought to our attention. First, we targeted the impact of the pandemic on respondents’ degree of responsibility for their livelihoods. Second, we wanted to determine to what extent the new situation increased the interviewee’s involvement only in some activities. The third statement called into question the causal relation between the influence of extrinsic elements on a highly educated person’s degree of responsibility. The focus group was the active population of the industrial sector in the North–West border area of Romania. The data obtained are the result of the sociological survey implementation. The people in the region were subject to several new limiting external factors. The results show that the unique challenges up to that point made them more accountable for their actions in a situation that affected them directly (pandemic). It also can be underlined that lifelong education is important in forming healthy principles of responsibility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Living in a Time of Change and Uncertainty—New Developments in Applied Social Psychology)

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16 pages, 305 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Job Autonomy and Work Meaning: Drivers of Employee Job-Crafting Behaviors in the VUCA Times

by Ting Nie, Min Tian, Mingyang Cai and Qiao Yan

Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(6), 493; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13060493 - 12 Jun 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 8568

Abstract

In the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environment (VUCA), employees can better match the organization and jobs by crafting their job perceptions, work tasks, and relationships, which is valuable to maintain organizational sustainable competitiveness and promote employees’ personal growth. This study explores the influence mechanisms of job autonomy and work meaning on employees’ job-crafting behaviors and the moderating effect of perceived organizational change through a survey of 318 employees in Chinese companies. The results show that job autonomy and work meaning can promote employees’ job-crafting behaviors by increasing individuals’ harmonious work passion. The indirect effects of job autonomy and work meaning on employee job-crafting behaviors through harmonious work passion are stronger for individuals with high perceived organizational change relative to those with low perceived organizational change. Organizations should concentrate on job redesign to improve employees’ job autonomy and work meaning. A climate of change should also be created within the organization to keep employees aware of the crisis. Meanwhile, employees should actively use work resources to meet the changing needs of organizational development and promote individual career development through job-crafting behaviors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Living in a Time of Change and Uncertainty—New Developments in Applied Social Psychology)

14 pages, 268 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characteristics of Adolescent Life Goals in Contemporary China: A Mixed-Methods Study

by Xiaofeng Wang, Rui Fu, Aruna Wu and Dan Li

Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(4), 326; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13040326 - 11 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2038

Abstract

Adolescence is a developmental period when individuals actively evaluate and construct their life goals. During the past several decades, China has transformed dramatically toward a highly competitive, market-oriented society. Despite a growing interest in exploring the implications of cultural values for youth adjustment in contemporary China, little is known about what life goals are prevalent among Chinese adolescents. This mixed-methods study aimed to identify the key themes of life goals and to examine gender, grade, and urban-rural differences in the identified themes among Chinese adolescents, using quantitative and qualitative methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 163 middle- and high-school students in urban and rural China. Thirteen key life goal themes were identified; among them, the most mentioned themes were Family Well-being, Academic Excellence, and Personal Happiness. Quantitative results showed grade and urban-rural differences in the adolescents’ endorsement of the themes of life goals. Specifically, more middle schoolers and rural students endorsed life goals that emphasize social belonging and group well-being, whereas more high schoolers and urban students endorsed life goals that underscore individual independence and uniqueness. These results indicated the implications of social change for adolescents’ life goals in contemporary China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Living in a Time of Change and Uncertainty—New Developments in Applied Social Psychology)

15 pages, 895 KiB

Open AccessArticle

by Verena Barbieri, Christian J. Wiedermann, Stefano Lombardo, Barbara Plagg, Giuliano Piccoliori, Timon Gärtner and Adolf Engl

Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(2), 188; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13020188 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2297

Abstract

Background: During the coronavirus pandemic, altruism has been linked to personal protective behavior, vaccine development, and vaccination intention. Studies of the moderating effects of age on altruism in pandemic preparedness have not yet been conducted. Methods: A representative cross-sectional survey of residents of South Tyrol, Italy, was conducted in March 2021. Among the participants, 1169 were aged 18–69 years, and 257 were aged ≥ 70 years. The questionnaire collected information on sociodemographic and individual characteristics, including comorbidities, COVID-19-related experiences, trust in information, the likelihood of accepting the national vaccination plan, and altruism. A linear regression analysis was performed. Results: Among 1426 participants, the median altruism sum score was 24 (interquartile range, 20–26). In the participant group aged ≥ 70 years, the median altruism score was significantly higher than that in the younger group. Participants living in a single household were significantly less altruistic than other participants, while participants working in the health sector, living in a household at risk from coronavirus disease 2019, or suffering from a chronic disease were found to be more altruistic. Altruism showed significant positive correlations with age and agreement with the national vaccination plan and was negatively correlated with well-being. Trust in institutions was positively correlated with altruism only in the younger age group but not in the elderly. Linear regression models confirmed female gender and identified trust in institutions as a positive predictor of altruism. In the younger age group, increased well-being and restricted individual sports activities were associated with reduced altruism, whereas support of compulsory self-isolation after contact with a SARS-CoV-2-positive person and handwashing as a personal protective measure were positively associated. Conclusion: Altruism is associated with various predictors of pandemic behavior and traits. The strengths of the identified positive and negative correlations support the modifying role of age in the effects of altruism on pandemic attitudes. Interventions that are likely to enhance altruism to improve pandemic preparedness in certain age groups require further study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Living in a Time of Change and Uncertainty—New Developments in Applied Social Psychology)

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Review

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25 pages, 1062 KiB

Open AccessReview

Measuring Attributions 50 Years on: From within-Country Poverty to Global Inequality

by Franco Bastias, Nadja Peter, Aristobulo Goldstein, Santiago Sánchez-Montañez, Anette Rohmann and Helen Landmann

Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030186 - 26 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2309

Abstract

Fifty years after Feagin’s pioneering 1972 study, we present a systematic review of the measurement of attributions for poverty and economic inequality. We conducted a search for articles published from 1972 to 2023 in APA PsycArticles, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, APA PsycInfo, PSYNDEX Literature with PSYNDEX Tests, and Google Scholar. We used the following English keywords: “poor”, “poverty”, “inequality”, “attribution”, and “attributions” and their equivalents in Spanish. Applying our inclusion and exclusion criteria led to a final sample of 74 articles. We report three main findings. First, the majority of studies classify attributions on the dimensions of individualistic vs. structural. Second, there is a clear tendency to measure attributions for domestic poverty without considering supranational factors or poverty as a global challenge. Third, studies focus almost exclusively on poverty rather than (economic) inequality. We identify potential for future development within the literature, namely, from a domestic to a global perspective, from locus to controllability, and from poverty to inequality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Living in a Time of Change and Uncertainty—New Developments in Applied Social Psychology)

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