ERIC Number: ED219709
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1982-Mar
Pages: 19
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Effects of Self-Presentational Tactics on Others' Attributions to Causes for Expected and Unexpected Helping Behaviors.
Mitchell, Thomas E.; Gombossy, Tom
Past research indicates that people employ different strategies to manage others' impressions; however, conditions which make these strategies effective remain unclear. Using a sample of college students (N=345), the effectiveness of self-presentational strategies on influencing others' attributions of causes for expected and unexpected helping behavior was investigated. Each subject read a scenario containing one of the six combinations of the independent variables (high or low expectancy, modest, neutral, or boastful claim, and gender of subject). Results indicated that, consistent with past research, a modest claim engendered more favorable trait ratings on all traits, while unexpected behavior led to more favorable ratings only on those traits most closely related to the helping behavior. A modest claim elicited more internal personal disposition causes for helping whereas expected helping behavior led to more external situational attributions. The findings suggest that unexpected behavior tells more about the person and that a modest self-presentation is more effective. (Author/JAC)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A