2009 SSSP Annual Meeting   November 14th, 2009 Fort Myers, FL SOCIETY OF SOUTHEASTERN SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGISTS (SSSP)  2009 ANNUAL CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR ABSTRACTS  The 31st annual meeting of the Society of Southeastern Social Psychologists will be held in Ft. Myers, FL on November 13-14 (welcome reception on the evening of Friday, November 13th and meeting all day on Saturday, November 14th). The conference will be hosted on the beautiful campus of Florida Gulf Coast University.  This email contains information below about the conference program, conference registration, hotel/accommodations, and abstract submissions.  In addition, information about the conference and SSSP may be found at http://www.ssrc.msstate.edu/sssp/.  SSSP founded in 1978 is a self-sustaining professional organization with no dues or fees associated with membership. SSSP has a membership of well over 400 students, faculty, and professional psychologists.  CONFERENCE PROGRAM (Program Committee:  Laurie Couch, Morehead State University, James McNulty, University of Tennessee, and Ginni Blackhart, East Tennessee University) This year promises to bring an exciting program to SSSP!  We are fortunate to have Michael E. McCullough from the University of Miami as our keynote speaker.  Mike earned his B.S. from the University of Florida in 1990 and his Ph.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1995. His research interests include forgiveness and revenge, gratitude, and religion. He has authored approximately 70 peer-reviewed articles, over 30 book chapters, and several books, including the recent book Beyond revenge: The evolution of the  forgiveness instinct.  Mike¹s research has been supported by numerous funding agencies, including NIMH, the Templeton Foundation, and the Fetzer Institute, and covered by numerous media outlets, such as Time, Newsweek, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and CBS News Sunday Morning. You can visit Mike's web page at http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/ Program: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13 6:30-8:00          Welcome Reception                                                                                          Marriott Courtyard – Meeting Room A   SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14 7:45-8:30        Registration and continental breakfast                                                                       Lutgert Hall Lobby 8:30-9:45        Symposia SYMPOSIUM A: The Emerging Symbiosis between Evolutionary and Social-Personality Psychology (Gregory D. Webster, Chair) Lutgert Hall, Room 1201 Evolutionary Theory’s Increasing Role in Personality and Social Psychology.  Gregory D. Webster, University of Florida. The Dark Triad: Personality Adaptations for Exploitation.  Peter K. Jonason, University of West Florida. Perceived Risk of Female Infidelity Moderates the Relationship between Men’s Personality and Partner-Directed Violence.  Farnaz Kaighobadi,a Todd K. Shackelford,a Danielle Popp,b Ryan M. Moyer,a Vincent M. Bates,a and James R. Liddlea  (a Florida Atlantic University, b California State University, Fullerton). Kinship as a Fundamental for Social Categorization.  Robert Oum, Debra Lieberman, and Alison Aylward, University of Miami   SYMPOSIUM B:  Managing Threatening Information (James A. Shepperd, Chair) Lutgert Hall, Room 1202 The role of motivation in implicit theories: How beliefs in modifiability change in response to failure and success.  J. Ehrlinger, K. E. Conlon, J. L. Alquist, and J. L. Butler, Florida State University. Don’t tell me that she’s superior (and certainly not that you are): Responses to potentially threatening social information.  Vera Hoorens, Katholieke Universiteit, Leuven, Belgium. Calculated Ignorance.  James A. Shepperd, Darya Melnyk, Kate Sweeny, & Wendi Malone, University of Florida.   10-10:50         Poster Session A                                                                                                                                    Lutgert Hall Lobby A1. Behavioral and Cognitive Consequences of Friendship Contingent Self-Esteem M. Janelle Cambron, Texas A&M University, University of Alabama; and Linda K. Acitelli, University of Houston This study examined some of the consequences of having self-esteem that is contingent on one's friendships (FCSE). 405 participants completed measures of FCSE, depressive symptoms, excessive reassurance seeking, negative feedback seeking, and rumination. Results showed that both rumination and negative feedback seeking mediated the relation between FCSE and depressive symptoms.   A2. Does Trait Importance Differ Across Leadership Level? Austin Lee Nichols and Catherine A. Cottrell, University of Florida Does the importance of traits differ dependent on the level of leadership? Participants reported the importance of multiple traits for a variety of leaders. Consistent with predictions, trustworthiness, intelligence, and ambition were highly valued across all leaders, whereas other characteristics depended on the leadership level and gender of the rater. A3. Winning the 'Voting' Race: SDO Predicts Party Membership Camilla S. Overup, Brandee E. Marion, Stephanie Teran, Paige Muellerleile, and Jamie Warner, Marshall University The historic 2008 election called for an examination of voting behavior. Using instruments that included social dominance orientation (SDO), symbolic racism (SR), and need for cognition (NC), participants completed pre- and post-election surveys. Analyses showed that only SDO classified voters appropriately. A4. An Investigation of the Relationship Between Personality Traits and General Managers' Career Satisfaction Wei Xiong, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville This study investigated the relationship between personality variables and general managers’ career satisfaction. Results indicated that particular personality traits were significantly related to managers’ career satisfaction. The difference between managers and non-managers were compared. Practical implications for future research were discussed. A5. Brownie Fudge Sundae or Seasonal Fruit Plate? The Effects of Global and Local Processing on Menu Item Evaluations Stephanie N. Downey and Michelle R. vanDellen, University of Georgia We examined how construal level affected responding to menus that encourage balancing or highlighting of goals. Individuals operating at a global construal level rated healthy and unhealthy food items equally whereas individuals operating at a local construal level rated unhealthy food items as more appealing than healthy food items. A6. When the Devil Fights Dirty: Construal Level and Self-Control Bari N. Bridges, Paul E. Moon, and Michelle R. vanDellen, University of Georgia Participants were asked to imagine whether they would experience each of eight outcomes (mixed between positive, negative, global and local outcomes) after failing to exert self-control. Participants were quickest to respond to outcomes that were positive and local and outcomes that were negative and global. A7. Loafing When Your Partner Needs You the Most: Resource Depletion in Romantic Relationships Evander G. Baker and Michelle R. vanDellen, University of Georgia Our study investigated self-control processes that occur in couples. We found that participants who thought they were performing as a couple exerted the least self-control, but this loafing did not occur in participants with depleted regulatory resources. Depletion did not affect those who thought they were performing as individuals. A8. The Tribe Has Spoken: Social Motivation, Rejection, and Self-Control Wojciech Kaczkowski, Raha F. Sabet, and Michelle R. vanDellen, University of Georgia The purpose of the study was to examine how social rejection decreases state self-control. Participants were either rejected by two confederates or were randomly assigned to work alone. Rejection decreased self-control on a second task and positive affect. Instructions about the second task did not affect performance or affect.   A9. A Clear Mind and a Simple Task: Self-Regulatory Depletion Buffers Stereotype Threat Robert Lytle, Annamarie Roszko, Megan Niziolek, Jeffery E. Aspelmeier, and P. Niels Christensen, Radford University The ability of self-regulatory depletion to buffer the negative effects of stereotype threat was tested among 300 college students. Among women, performance was enhanced under conditions of self-regulation depletion. However, depletion boost was found in both the high and low stereotype threat conditions. A10. From Cotton to Kindness: An Investigation of Anonymous Helping Behavior in the Southeastern United States David A. Hartmann and Rozalyn E. Crews, New College of Florida A field study at 52 department stores across the Southeastern United States investigated the situational and dispositional conditions under which southern hospitality may be most likely to occur. Factors that were associated with the amount of help received included gender and traffic rate. A11. Implicit versus Explicit Sexist Beliefs toward Women Erjona Asllani, Melissa Newberry, and Dan Richard, University of North Florida A modified version of the IAT was used to measure ambivalent sexism. Three self-report scales were used as explicit measures of sexism; a warm-cold scale, Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI), and Attitudes Toward Women Scale (AWS). Modifications to the IAT do not increase the relationship with explicit measures of ambivalent sexism. A12. An Eye for an Eye? Cultural Differences in Revenge and Forgiveness Rachelle E. Detky and Dan Richard, University of North Florida Initial studies of revenge and forgiveness have indicated cultural differences, but no clear patterns. Thus, a meta-analysis was conducted of studies in which people from two different countries are compared on a measure of revenge or forgiveness. Results suggest that when working toward reconciliation, different countries may require different strategies. A13. Evaluating the Role of Negative Emotion in Lie-Detection: Anger as a Cue to Truthfulness Jessica Hatz, Martin Bourgeois, Eric Morris, and Liane Gillis, Florida Gulf Coast University Negative emotion typically accompanies lying, but Ekman has predicted that anger is especially difficult to feign, and that truth-tellers should therefore show more of this negative emotion than liars. In two studies, we demonstrate that anger does signify truthfulness, but only in certain types of lie-eliciting situations. A14. Attachment Style, Demographics, and Attitudes About Raising Children Steven M. Graham, New College of Florida; Nathaniel M. Lambert and Frank D. Fincham, Florida State University Despite the obvious implications of the decision to have children, researchers have largely neglected factors associated with this decision. This research examined attitudes about childrearing in connection with attachment style and demographic characteristics. Attachment insecurity, sex, age, and size of family of origin all were associated with these attitudes. A15. Understanding God Concepts Ingmar Gorman and Steven M. Graham, New College of Florida; Nathaniel M. Lambert and Frank D. Fincham, Florida State University Although religion looms large in many lives, psychological research on religious topics is relatively scant. This research examined God concepts and found that most features were positive, many were anthropomorphic, and negative features were considered peripheral. These results suggest pathways by which religion is associated with important life outcomes.   A16. Holding the Same Negative Attitudes of Others Promotes Felt Knowing and In-Groupness Jonathan R. Weaver and Jennifer K. Bosson, University of South Florida Participants who learned that their partner held similar negative attitudes toward a professor felt they knew their future partner more and shared more in-groups regardless of the strength of their attitude. Conversely, learning of a shared positive attitude only increased felt knowing and in-groupness when the attitude was strongly held. A17. Moral Anger and Disgust in Response to Sexual Bodily Taboos T. Andrew Caswell, Jennifer K. Bosson, and Vanessa E. Hettinger, University of South Florida; Roger Giner-Sorolla, University of Kent The current research investigates the appraisals that elicit moral emotions. Participants read a scenario in which we manipulated betrayal and taboo. Betrayal elicited anger, while taboo elicited disgust. Appraisals of harm/rights violations partially mediated the effect of betrayal on anger while abnormality partially mediated the effect of taboo on disgust. A18. Changing Carolina: An Intervention to Reduce Indifference to Violence Against Women in Both Women and Men Peter Warren, Suzanne Swan, and Christopher Allen, University of South Carolina The aim of this research was to examine the effectiveness of the Changing Carolina intervention in reducing hostility towards women, rape myth acceptance and other variables related to indifference towards violence against women for both male and female college students.   11:00-12:15   Symposia SYMPOSIUM C:  Making the most of Intergroup Contact (E. Ashby Plant, Chair) Lutgert Hall, Room 1201 Approaching Egalitarianism versus Avoiding Prejudice: Implications for Promoting Positive Interracial Interactions.   E. Ashby Plant, Florida State University Patricia G. Devine, University of Wisconsin, and Madison B. Michelle Peruche, Florida State University. Improving Interracial Interactions: The Role of Knowledge of Cross-Group Friendships.   David A. Butz, Morehead State University Linda R. Tropp, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Implications of Timing of Sexual Orientation Disclosure for Intergroup Interactions.   David Buck, Florida State University E. Ashby Plant, Florida State University. The contents of getting acquainted in interracial interactions.   Michael A. Olson, University of Tennessee Camille S. Johnson, San Jose State University.   SYMPOSIUM D:  “Hot out of the Lab” (Jim McNulty, Chair) Lutgert Hall, Room 1202 Several short presentations (about 5 minutes each) about recent findings from projects in the lab.  Following the presentations, the audience can linger and discuss the research further, as well as potential and collaborations, etc.     12:30-1:50       Lunch                                                                                                                        “The Perch” in the Student Union   2:00-3:15        Symposia SYMPOSIUM E:  Taming the Impulsive Beast:  Improving Self-Control through Physical, Mental, and Divine Power (C. Nathan DeWall, Chair) Lutgert Hall, Room 1201 Goliath, Glucose, and Gaffe: Height, Power, and Blood Sugar Facilitate Self-Control.  C. Nathan DeWall, University of Kentucky. Strengthening the Muscle: Improving State Self-control.  Tyler F. Stillman, Roy F. Baumeister, Dianne M. Tice, Frank D. Fincham, and Nathaniel M. Lambert, Florida State University. When the thoughts count: Regulatory accessibility and state self-control.  Michelle vanDellen, University of Georgia. Invocations, Intoxication, and Reconciliation: How prayer contributes to self-control in the domains of drinking and forgiveness.  Nathaniel M. Lambert, Frank D. Fincham, Tyler F. Stillman, Florida State University, and C. Nathan DeWall, University of Kentucky.    SYMPOSIUM F:  Social/Health Psychology: Transdisciplinary Approaches (Kristen Salomon, Chair) Lutgert Hall, Room 1202 Cardiovascular Reactivity to Interpersonal Incivility: The Moderating Role of Past Discrimination. Kristen Salomon, Nicole Jagusztyn, & Tebeth Emmons, University of South Florida. Inmates with HIV: Their Experiences with Stigma and Disclosure Decision-Making. Valerian Derlega, Old Dominion University. The Implications of Death for Health: New evidence for a terror management model of behavioral health promotion. Jamie L. Goldenberg & Doug P. Cooper, University of South Florida   3:30-4:20        Poster Session B                                                                                                                    Lutgert Hall Lobby B1. Coping with Lonely Feelings: An Analysis of Self-Identified General Loneliness and Gender T. Zacharey H. Goble and Laurie L. Couch, Morehead State University Ways of coping with lonely feelings for those who self-identified as generally lonely vs. non-lonely were analyzed by gender. Results indicated no effect for gender; however, the generally lonely reported greater use of negative strategies and less use of positive strategies to deal with lonely feelings than the generally non-lonely. B2. An Assessment of Links between Components of Empathy and Interpersonal Problems Tiffany M. Lange and Laurie L. Couch, Morehead State University Four components of empathy were assessed to determine links to common interpersonal problems. Although details about specific interpersonal problems will be reported, in general results suggested that empathic distress was the component of empathy that was most closely linked to interpersonal problems, whereas perspective taking was inversely associated with interpersonal problems.       B3. Effect of Shared Humor on Couples' Ratings of Relationship Satisfaction Julia C. Fondren and Doris G. Bazzini, Appalachian State University Previous literature suggests that laughter may be beneficial in promoting closeness, liking, and attraction. The present study examined whether couples who laughed more together while completing a novel, game-like task would report correspondingly higher levels of relationship satisfaction and report more similar values as compared to couples who laughed less. B4. How Do We Construe Health Threats? The Interactive Effects of Dispositional and Unrealistic Optimism on Level of Information Processing Stephanie L. Fowler and Andrew L. Geers, University of Toledo; Justin A. Wellman, Hartwick College In this study, participants completed dispositional and unrealistic optimism instruments, then experienced either a looming or distant health threat, and finally completed two dependent measures assessing information processing level. As predicted, the two forms of optimism interacted to predict level of information processing—but only in the looming threat condition. B5. Tell Me About the Disease and I Will Tell You My Risk: Disease Description and Risk Estimates Sarah Grubbs and Jodi Grace, St. Thomas University Does the way a disease is described affect people’s perceptions of their risk? The current study manipulated stigma surrounding the disease and whether the disease had a cure. Participants reported risk estimates for themselves and the average student. Analyses revealed disease description affected perceptions of personal and average student risk. B6. Identity Concerns and Intimate Disclosures in the Medical Interview Chip Timmons, Tiffany M. Smith, Giselle Inoa, and Jodi Grace, St. Thomas University In medical appointments, patients are asked to disclose sensitive information to medical practitioners. The current study investigated how concerns about identity relate to patient disclosure in the medical interview. Analyses revealed patients’ disclosures depended upon a variety of factors including gender of the medical practitioner and topic of disclosure. B7. The Adequacy of Manipulation Checks Following Deception Kelsye Roark, Donald L. Pierce, Kelly E. Brown, and Ginette C. Blackhart, East Tennessee State University Participant honesty on manipulation checks in response to deception may be unreliable. Informing half the participants of the experimental manipulation, several factors (success/failure, reward/no reward, and computer/in-person interview) were examined for possible effects on participant admission and awareness. Results show low admission rates, but suggest possible factors that may increase participant honesty. B8. Strategic Partner Selection: Examining a Risk Regulation Model of Partner Choice Sadie Leder and Sandra L. Murray, University at Buffalo We examined how people balance competing desires for closeness and protection when choosing romantic partners. Results revealed that more securely attached individuals evidence strategic flexibility in partner selection preferences. When rejection threat was high, secures showed a preference for “safer” partners, as compared to situations where rejection concerns were minimal. B9. Racial Disparities in Mental Health among Katrina Survivors: The Role of Trauma Exposure and Life Disruption William Benson, Laurie O'Brien, Stacy Overstreet, and Alyssa Boasso, Tulane University This study used an institutional racism perspective to examine ethnic differences in mental health among New Orleans community residents after the Katrina disaster. Compared to Whites, Blacks experienced greater disaster exposure, which led to increased psychological distress. Group differences in mental health were completely explained by differential disaster exposure.   B10. Construct Validity for a Self-Report Measure of Distributions of Trait Behavior Patrick Gallagher and Rick Hoyle, Duke University; William Fleeson, Wake Forest University This research examines a new self-report measure of distributions of Big-Five behavior, the behavioral distribution questionnaire (BDQ). The BDQ was related to several other constructs, including other Big-Five measures and affect, in predicted patterns. The BDQ appears to be a valid and much more comprehensive way to measure personality traits. B11. Do We Still Believe in the American Dream? Perceptions of Economic Mobility in the Face of Factual Evidence Megan L. Stafford, Leslee N. Browning, and Wendy R. Williams, Marshall University This study examined participants’ belief in the American Dream. Participants were given information that either supported or challenged the American Dream, and then rated their own mobility as well as others’ mobility. Belief in personal mobility was not affected by the manipulation, but belief in others’ mobility was reduced. B12. Experiencing Major Life Transitions: Endorsing Personal Values Over Cultural Values While Visiting an Unfamiliar Country Christina M. Smith, Chris J. Burgin, and Leonard L. Martin, University of Georgia Participants who wrote about the major life transition of recently having moved to an unfamiliar country were more likely to favor values they found personally relevant over culturally endorsed values. B13. Is Love Blind? Some Limits on the Use of Positive Illusions in Close Relationships Kayla Champaigne, Lianne Bronzo, Rachel Smith, and Christopher Leone, University of North Florida “Love is blind”, and there is evidence that romantic partners have positive illusions about their own relationships. Our findings indicate, however, that love does not entirely blind romantic partners’ views. While partners think they are doing well compared to other couples, partners still see room for improvement in their own relationships. B14. Behavioral Identification and Responsibility Attributions: Interpreting and Explaining the Physical Abuse of Children Crystal Davis, Michael Harari, LouAnne Hawkins, and Christopher Leone, University of North Florida Gilbert’s two-step model of attributions (behavioral identification affects dispositional attributions) was examined the context of child abuse. Regardless of the abusive behaviors, the parents’ sex, and the children’s sex, and identification of behavior as abusive was positively correlated with responsibility attributions about parents but negatively correlated with responsibility attributions about children. B15. Self-Esteem and Friendship: Differential and Selective Motivation to Avoid Relationship Dissolution James Kindelsperger, David Beane, Christopher Leone, and Meredith Wikstrom, University of North Florida Our results suggest that compared to high self-esteem persons, low self-esteem persons have more motivation (albeit selective) to avoid losing friendships. That is, low self-esteem persons are more likely than high self-esteem persons to take constructive steps to maintain those friendships that are especially valuable. B16. "Something Old, Something New": A Re-Examination of Measures of Religious Orientation Andrew Wood, Heather Johnston, Christopher Leone, and Rebecca Youngblood, University of North Florida We found evidence for both convergent and discriminant validity in the scores of two measures of religious orientation: Religious Orientation Scale and Revised Intrinsic-Extrinsic Scale. However, both the intrinsic and extrinsic scales of the Religious Orientation Scale were unexpectedly related to the extrinsic-personal scale of the Revised Intrinsic-Extrinsic Scale.   B17. Bad Guys, Good Guys, It Doesn't Matter: Some Effects of Thought and Schema Tuning on Attitudes About Groups Ricjard Mottola, Matthew Valente, Omar Aleman, Shawn Lewis, James Solari, Christopher Leone, and Brandon Brace, University of North Florida Whether thought produced polarized attitudes and increased evaluative constancy in attitude-related beliefs varied as a function of participants’ initial attitudes and schema tuning. “Individuating” information about groups (e.g., favorable attributes) was not sufficient to override the effects of tuning in negative schemas on attitudes about these groups. 4:30-5:30        Keynote Address                                                                                                                   Academic Building 5, Room 112            Beyond Revenge: The Evolution of the Forgiveness Instinct            Michael E. McCullough, University of Miami Finally, SSSP will also include POSTER PRESENTATIONS.  Details about how to submit your abstract for a poster presentation appear below – abstracts are due by FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2.   REGISTRATION AND HOTEL RESERVATIONS (SITE COORDINATOR:  MARTIN BOURGEOIS FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY) Registration - Early registration ends WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14th!  We encourage you to register ahead of time so that we will have adequate space, seating, and food for all conference attendees.  Please mail your registration form and fees immediately, and make all checks payable Martin Bourgeois with SSSP in the memo line: Advanced registration fee (Received by October 14, 2009)                                 Student:              $45                                 Faculty:               $60 Late/Onsite Registration fee (Received after October 14, 2009)                                 Student:              $55                                 Faculty:               $70 You can register for the conference by completing the registration form attached here (and located at http://www.ssrc.msstate.edu/sssp/) and mailing it with your registration fee to Martin Bourgeois, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL  33965.    SSSP is a self-sustaining organization with no dues or fees. Your registration fee for the conference will cover your continental breakfast, luncheon, and conference materials. Hotel - A reduced rate of $89 per night has been negotiated with the nearby Marriott Courtyard Hotel for November 13th and 14th and you may make reservations online at http://cwp.marriott.com/rswap/societyofsesocialpsych.  The hotel offers a free shuttle from Fort Myers International Airport.  The hotel is located close to campus in the new Gulf Coast Town Center, a thriving new mall that provides a variety of shopping, dining, and entertainment options: http://www.gulfcoasttowncenter.com.  For more information about Fort Myers and nearby beaches: http://www.fortmyers-sanibel.com. ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS We encourage faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students to consider submitting abstracts for the poster sessions.  The deadline for submitting an abstract for consideration is FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2009. You can submit your abstract electronically at http://blackhartlab.etsu.edu/limesurvey/index.php?sid=76589&lang=en.  When you submit, please provide 1) the names and affiliations of all authors, 2) the name and email address for the first author/contact person, 3) an abstract of no more than 300 words, and 4) an abstract of 50 words to include in the program. If you have any questions or need assistance, please email Ginni Blackhart (gblackhart@scientia.cc).   We truly hope that you will join us at SSSP this year. Deadlines are rapidly approaching, so hurry - don't wait to register, submit your abstracts, and make your hotel reservations!  We look forward to seeing you in Ft. Myers!  Registration Form Pictures from the 2002 meeting The 2008 Conference in Greenville, SC The 2007 Conference in Duke University, NC The 2006 Conference in Knoxville, TN The 2005 Conference in Atlantic Beach, FL The 2004 Conference in Clemson, SC The 2003 Conference in Greensboro, NC The 2002 Conference in Augusta, GA The 2001 Conference in Knoxville, TN The 2000 Conference in Macon, GA The 1999 Conference in Richmond, VA The 1998 Conference in Athens, GA The 1997 Conference in Chapel Hill, NC A Timeline of Past SSSP Conferences	home  overview    history   meetings   news                     email list
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