Social and Personality Psychology Compass

Framing resilience linked to parental ethnic-racial socialization as hidden: A hidden resilience conceptual framework
Del Toro J, Bernard D, Lee RM and Adam EK
Parental ethnic-racial socialization is a source of adolescents' resilience against ethnic-racial discrimination. Recent meta-analyses have documented the aspects of ethnic-racial socialization (i.e., how ethnic-racial socialization is directly related with adolescents' adjustment regardless of their discrimination experiences). However, extant empirical studies have produced conflicting results about the or moderating role of ethnic-racial socialization, with studies suggesting that ethnic-racial socialization buffers, exacerbates, or does not moderate the impacts of ethnic-racial discrimination. We offer a reconceptualization of existing studies' findings and draw from existing theories to propose as a new conceptual framework that highlights how resilience and the positive benefits linked to ethnic-racial socialization may not be noticeable when studies use psychosocial measures but is rather hidden "underneath the skin." Conversations about racism may momentarily feel uncomfortable, upsetting, or stressful for youth, but such conversations can help youth learn how to cope with ethnic-racial discrimination in the long term. Following a review of studies supporting our conceptual framework, we provide suggestions for future research to expand the field's understanding of resilience linked to ethnic-racial socialization.
Revisiting the Charmed Circle: A Reflexive Examination of Unanswered Questions in the Infidelity Literature
Weiser DA and Shrout MR
Infidelity is a common experience in romantic relationships, and as such, relationships researchers have amassed a large infidelity literature. In the current manuscript, we provide a brief overview of the infidelity literature, specifically focusing on how infidelity is defined, infidelity attitudes, predictors of infidelity, and infidelity outcomes. Next, we introduce readers to the "Charmed Circle" (Rubin, 1984), a theoretical perspective that conceptualizes monogamous sex as part of society's view of "good, normal, and natural" sex, otherwise known as mononormativity. As scholars, we are equally socialized in a system that endorses and reinforces mononormativity. In this article, we call on scholars to engage in reflexivity and consider how mononormativity has shaped the infidelity literature and their approach to research. We highlight pressing questions within the infidelity literature and argue that by questioning our own biases, assumptions, and methodologies, we will be able to further advance our understanding of infidelity.
The role of mindfulness and compassion in early adults' subsequent mental health, coping and compliance with health guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic: A prospective longitudinal study
Van Doren N, Mahlobo CT, Galla BM, Colaianne BA, Hirshberg MJ, Inkelas KK and Roeser RW
The present study explored prospective links between trait mindfulness and compassion on subsequent coping and compliance with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines and indirect effects via well-being and internalized distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study included = 736 US college students who participated in a three-wave longitudinal study across a single academic year. The first two assessment waves took place in 2018 and 2019, respectively, while the third wave took place in May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants completed self-report measures of trait mindfulness, compassion, well-being, internalized distress, coping, and compliance with CDC health guidelines. Results of a series of autoregressive, cross-lagged panel models revealed that trait mindfulness was associated with better coping via indirect effects of greater well-being and lower internalized distress. Greater compassion was linked with greater adherence to CDC guidelines. Findings suggest that trait mindfulness and compassion may play a role in college students' coping and compliance during the pandemic.
Fear of missing out and depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic
LeRoy AS, Lai VD, Tsay-Jones A and Fagundes CP
During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments issued public health safety measures (e.g., "stay-at-home" ordinances), leaving many people "missing out" on integral social aspects of their own lives. The fear of missing out, popularly shortened as, "FoMO," is a felt sense of unease one experiences when they perceive they may be missing out on rewarding and/or enjoyable experiences. Among 76 participants (ages = 69.36, = 5.34), who were at risk for hospitalization or death if infected with COVID-19, we found that FoMO was associated with depressive symptoms at Time 1, even when controlling for perceived stress, loneliness, and fear of COVID-19. However, FoMO did not predict future depressive symptoms, about 1 week later, when controlling for Time 1 depressive symptoms. These findings provide further evidence that FoMO is associated with depressive symptoms in a short period of time even when accounting for other powerful social factors such as loneliness. Future research should explore the potential causal relationships between FoMO and depression, especially those that may establish temporal precedence.
Does Online Social Support Uniquely Buffer Effects of Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic?: A Natural Experiment
Eamiello ML and Reid A
In-person sources of social support buffer effects of stress on mental health. However, online social support inconsistently demonstrates stress-buffering effects. Highly stressful circumstances, such as the first month of COVID-19 lockdown, may be necessary to benefit from support received from online networks. We investigated whether online support demonstrated an increased stress-buffering effect on depressive symptoms during the first month of COVID-19 lockdown. We collected cross-sectional data on three distinct groups of participants from February to April 2020-preceding lockdown (pre-COVID; = 53), up to four weeks following university closures (initial lockdown; = 136), and the final weeks of the semester (later lockdown; = 127). Initial lockdown participants reported significantly more stress than pre-COVID but not later lockdown participants. The online social support by stress by COVID phase interaction was only significant for the initial versus later lockdown comparison. Online support buffered stress during initial lockdown but not later lockdown. Stress-buffering effects of offline support were observed and did not depend on COVID phase. Online support may only buffer stress when stress is heightened and offline support is less available.
Context-Dependent Shifts in Self-Regulatory Personality Processes During COVID-19: Changes in Control Predict Dynamic Shifts in Goal Reengagement Capacity
Hamm JM, Barlow MA, Garcia OG and Duggan KA
The ability to reengage with new attainable goals after major setbacks is a core self-regulatory trait linked to health and well-being. Yet little is known about the extent to which such goal reengagement capacities may shift over time in response to changing contextual circumstances. Using a nationally-representative sample of U.S. adults aged 18-80 ( = 293), the present 1-year study examined whether changes in opportunity to influence life circumstances (perceived control) were coupled with dynamic shifts in goal reengagement capacity for individuals who differed in their levels of control at pandemic onset. Results of multilevel models showed that within-person increases in perceived control during the pandemic predicted corresponding within-person increases in goal reengagement capacity. Moderation models showed that the positive within-person association between perceived control and goal reengagement was pronounced for individuals with lower levels of control at pandemic onset who may be particularly sensitive to periods of opportunity to pursue new attainable goals. Findings inform theories of personality and self-regulation in pointing to contextual circumstances under which goal reengagement capacity exhibits dynamic shifts in populations who differ in their perceived opportunities for control.
Individual Differences in Patterns of Developmental Opportunity and Constraint During COVID-19: Implications for Longitudinal Well-Being
Hamm JM, Shane J, Pierce MJ and Duggan KA
Individual differences in sociodemographic characteristics and trait-like perceptions of opportunities and constraints may shape responses to adversities such as the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, little is known about how these factors combine to form multifaceted profiles of developmental opportunity and constraint or the implications of such profiles for longitudinal well-being following major life stressors. Using a national sample of U.S. adults ( = 293), we used latent profile analysis to identify profiles based on relevant sociodemographic characteristics (age, SES, chronic conditions, functional status) and trait-like perceptions of opportunity and constraints (perceived mastery, perceived constraints). Results showed that three common profiles emerged at pandemic onset (veridical opportunity, perceived constraints, perceived opportunity). Subsequent latent growth models showed that, despite reporting more sociodemographic constraints, the perceived opportunity profile exhibited better 1-year emotional well-being (positive and negative affect) during the pandemic than the perceived constraints profile. Findings advance the literature by identifying multifaceted individual differences in profiles of developmental opportunity and constraint and by showing these profiles have consequences for longitudinal well-being following the pandemic onset.
Collective Views of Vaccination Predict Vaccine Hesitancy and Willingness to Receive a COVID-19 Vaccine
Davisson EK and Hoyle RH
We examined the association between sociodemographic factors, views of vaccines as being an individual choice to protect oneself vs. a collective choice to protect others, general vaccine hesitancy, and willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. In a sample of adults ( = 619; 33% non-white), we showed that demographic factors explain significant variance in both vaccine hesitancy and willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Viewing vaccines as an individual choice to protect oneself explained additional variance in vaccine hesitancy. However, people who viewed vaccines as a collective choice to protect others showed both less vaccine hesitancy and greater willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. These findings suggest that promoting prosocial attitudes about vaccinations may decrease vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccine uptake.
Are Moderate Levels of Stress Particularly Dangerous for Relationship Satisfaction? A Conceptual Replication of
Williamson HC
The well-documented negative impact of daily stressors on relational well-being, juxtaposed with emerging evidence indicating that major stressors can have a positive impact on relational well-being, suggests that the association between stress and relational well-being may not be monotonic. Tesser and Beach originally raised this possibility in a 1998 study in which they found that the association between stress and individual well-being was linear, whereas the association with relational well-being was non-linear. The current study sought to conceptually replicate this study within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic by examining associations between stress and individual versus relational well-being, using a sample of 654 individuals who were in a committed relationship in the early weeks of the pandemic. Results were somewhat consistent with those of the original study: the association between stress and depression was linear, but the association between stress and relationship satisfaction was non-linear. However, the form of the association between stress and relationship satisfaction was different than observed in the original study. These results point toward the need to better understand how the severity of a stressor impacts relational outcomes, including the characteristics of stress that lead to stress spillover and the circumstances under which relational outcomes are resilient to high levels of stress.
Social Determinants of Health, Prenatal Maternal Stress, and Earlier Birth During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Preis H, Wang W, Zhu W, Mahaffey B and Lobel M
During the COVID-19 pandemic, pregnant women, especially those from socioeconomically disadvantaged and marginalized groups, experienced unprecedented stress. Prenatal stress and social determinants of health (SDoH) such as lower education and lack of a relationship partner are known to contribute to earlier birth. However, whether SDoH and stress independently contribute or whether the harmful impact of SDoH is mediated by stress is unknown. Moreover, the contributions of these factors has not been investigated in the context of a communal health crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. To examine these processes, we used a longitudinal cohort of 2,473 women pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic who reported a live birth. We compared structural equation models predicting gestational age at birth from SDoH (race/ethnicity, education, financial security, health insurance, relationship status, and lifetime abuse) and from prenatal maternal stress related and unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results indicate that the association of SDoH with earlier birth was partially mediated by prenatal stress. These findings help uncover mechanisms explaining health disparities in the U.S. and highlight the need to address both SDoH and the stress that these factors produce in under-resourced and marginalized communities.
The role of honour in interpersonal, intrapersonal and intergroup processes
Uskul AK, Cross SE and Günsoy C
In this article, we review research in psychology and other related social science fields that has adopted an honor framework to examine intrapersonal, interpersonal, and intergroup processes taking a culture-comparative or individual differences approach. In the sections below, we will first review research on the role of honor in interpersonal processes focusing primarily on interpersonal aggression including in close relationships, non-aggressive ways of responding to threats (e.g., forgiveness), and reciprocity. Next, we move onto reviewing research on the role of honor in intrapersonal processes, specifically in the domains of emotional responses to honor-threatening situations, mental, and physical health. Finally, we review research emerging from social and political psychology and political science that have utilized the honor framework to understand and explain group processes and intergroup relations at different level of analyses (e.g., social groups, nations). Given the limited space, our goal was to emphasize major and emerging areas of research on honor and provide food for thought for future research.
Shared understanding and social connection: Integrating approaches from social psychology, social network analysis, and neuroscience
Baek EC and Parkinson C
Meaningfully connecting with others is critical to the well-being of individuals. What phenomena contribute to and stem from social connection? In this paper, we integrate emerging work that uses neuroimaging and social network analysis with theories that explore the links between shared reality and social connection. We highlight recent work suggesting that the extent to which people have aligned mental processing and shared subjective construals to those around them-as shown by neural similarity-is associated with both objective and subjective social connection. On the other hand, idiosyncrasies are linked to difficulties with social connection. We conclude by suggesting how the links between shared understanding and social connection can be productively used as a framework to study psychosocial phenomena of interest.
The promises and pitfalls of functional magnetic resonance imaging hyperscanning for social interaction research
Tsoi L, Burns SM, Falk EB and Tamir DI
Social neuroscience combines tools and perspectives from social psychology and neuroscience to understand how people interact with their social world. Here we discuss a relatively new method-hyperscanning-to study real-time, interactive social interactions using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We highlight three contributions that fMRI hyperscanning makes to the study of the social mind: (1) Naturalism: it shifts the focus from tightly-controlled stimuli to more naturalistic social interactions; (2) Multi-person Dynamics: it shifts the focus from individuals as the unit of analysis to dyads and groups; and (3) Neural Resolution: fMRI hyperscanning captures high-resolution neural patterns and dynamics across the whole brain, unlike other neuroimaging hyperscanning methods (e.g., electroencephalogram, functional near-infrared spectroscopy). Finally, we describe the practical considerations and challenges that fMRI hyperscanning researchers must navigate. We hope researchers will harness this powerful new paradigm to address pressing questions in today's society.
Exploring the impact of COVID-19 on mobile dating: Critical avenues for research
Gibson AF
In this digitally mediated world, initiating sexual or romantic intimacy now frequently occurs on mobile dating apps, which both requires people to navigate new technologies, but also enables them to explore different possibilities for intimacy. The opportunities that mobile dating holds for creating intimacy, and how people take these up, is particularly relevant in light of the global pandemic of COVID-19, when human connection and contact are entangled with varying worries about viral contamination, risk and future uncertainty. But how does the pandemic impact on mobile dating? How are affect and risk intertwined-or even negotiated-by people in their search for intimacy in this pandemic? What possibilities do mobile dating apps hold for people in their search for connection with others? In this commentary, I provide a brief overview of how risk has been examined previously in mobile dating research and explore what future directions could be taken in this field. I argue for research that acknowledges and prioritises: the plurality of people's sociomaterial conditions; the interrelationship between people, digital technologies and COVID-19; and the discursive context that furnishes people's sense of risk and emotional possibility across different sociocultural contexts. These new directions in the field offer opportunities to conduct critical research that is responsive to this dynamic context, and that illuminates the various ways that people are navigating intimacy, risk and emotion across different living conditions during this pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the search for structure: Social media and conspiracy theories
Dow BJ, Johnson AL, Wang CS, Whitson J and Menon T
The study outlines a model for how the COVID-19 pandemic has uniquely exacerbated the propagation of conspiracy beliefs and subsequent harmful behaviors. The pandemic has led to widespread disruption of cognitive and social structures. As people face these disruptions they turn online seeking alternative cognitive and social structures. Once there, social media radicalizes beliefs, increasing contagion (rapid spread) and stickiness (resistance to change) of conspiracy theories. As conspiracy theories are reinforced in online communities, social norms develop, translating conspiracy beliefs into real-world action. These real-world exchanges are then posted back on social media, where they are further reinforced and amplified, and the cycle continues. In the broader population, this process draws attention to conspiracy theories and those who confidently espouse them. This attention can drive perceptions that conspiracy beliefs are less fringe and more popular, potentially normalizing such beliefs for the mainstream. We conclude by considering interventions and future research to address this seemingly intractable problem.
Dyadic Disruption Theory
Cornelius T
Aspects of couples' romantic relationships are some of the most powerful psychosocial forces shaping mental and physical health, but even high-quality relationships are not universally beneficial for patients. Dyadic health theories have largely focused on chronic illness management that occurs after the couple understands the disease and prognosis, rather than focusing on couples' interdependence in the days and weeks following a sudden and disruptive medical event (e.g., an acute coronary syndrome [ACS] or a stroke). To address this gap, I propose Dyadic Disruption Theory to guide research on couples' reactions to acute medical events and their consequences for individual and dyadic mental health, physical health, and behavior. I propose that dyadic processes of social support, shared reality, and co-rumination can precipitate harmful patient and partner dynamics when couples are distressed early post-event and offer three propositions that inform testable hypotheses. Finally, I discuss implications for early dyadic intervention and future directions for research.
Positive psychological well-being and cardiovascular disease: Exploring mechanistic and developmental pathways
Boehm JK
Empirical research regarding the health benefits of positive psychological well-being (e.g., positive emotions, life satisfaction, purpose in life, and optimism) has flourished in recent years, particularly with regard to cardiovascular disease. This paper reviews the state of evidence for well-being's association with cardiovascular disease in both healthy individuals and those diagnosed with a disease. Prospective studies consistently indicate well-being reduces cardiovascular events in healthy and, to a lesser extent, patient populations. Potential pathways that link well-being with cardiovascular disease are discussed (including health behaviors, physiological processes, and stress buffering), although the existing evidence is mostly cross-sectional which limits conclusions about directionality. Issues related to development across the lifespan are considered and childhood is identified as a crucial period for establishing healthy cardiovascular trajectories. Outstanding questions for future research are provided with recommendations to focus on well-powered and prospective study designs with rigorous assessment of both well-being and cardiovascular-related outcomes.
Psychological distance and the pandemic: Insights from Construal Level Theory and relationship science
Bowen JD
The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has brought about unprecedented challenges to public health. Compounding these hardships is the fact that typical social functions such as maintaining valued relationships cannot proceed as usual. Social cognitive perspectives like that presented by Construal Level Theory (CLT) can provide a valuable framework for understanding our unique interpersonal experiences during this difficult time, and potentially offer avenues for adaptation and healthier coping. I begin by introducing CLT and follow with a discussion of its implications for understanding the psychological effects of on our interpersonal relationships and pursuit of social goals. I describe how abstract and concrete construals can affect our experiences of maintaining close relationships that vary widely in terms of geographic distance or separation. CLT can offer insight not only into how geographic distance or closeness may shape our thoughts and feelings about our close others, but also how we approach pursuing goals that are directly or indirectly shaped by these close others. The more effectively we can frame and communicate about experiences during this challenging time in history, the better equipped we may be to support our public health apparatus and satisfy our psychological needs.
Social norms, social identities and the COVID-19 pandemic: Theory and recommendations
Neville FG, Templeton A, Smith JR and Louis WR
Sustained mass behaviour change is needed to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, but many of the required changes run contrary to existing social norms (e.g., physical closeness with in-group members). This paper explains how social norms and social identities are critical to explaining and changing public behaviour. Recommendations are presented for how to harness these social processes to maximise adherence to COVID-19 public health guidance. Specifically, we recommend that public health messages clearly define who the target group is, are framed as identity-affirming rather than identity-contradictory, include complementary injunctive and descriptive social norm information, are delivered by in-group members and that support is provided to enable the public to perform the requested behaviours.
Resisting, Recognizing, and Returning: A Three-Component Model and Review of Persistence in Episodic Goals
Moshontz H and Hoyle RH
According to prior work, persistent goal pursuit is a continuous process where persisting is a matter of resisting the urge to give up. In everyday goals, however, persistence is often episodic, and its causes are more complex. People pause and resume pursuit many times. Whether people persist reflects more than will power and motivation, it also reflects the other goals they pursue, their resources, and the attentional demands of daily life. People can fail to persist not just because they gave up, but also because they failed to act. We propose a general model of persistence that accommodates the complexity of episodic goals. We argue that persistent goal pursuit is a function of three processes: the urge to give up, opportunities for pursuit, and to pursuit. The broad factors that help and hurt persistence can be organized within these components. These components can also explain the mechanisms of four effective strategies for persistence: removing distractions, using reminders, using implementation intentions, and forming habits. The recognizing-resisting-returning model integrates and improves on extant theories of persistence and goal pursuit and is consistent with empirical work from laboratory and naturalistic settings.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Association between Personality and Cognitive Failures / Complaints
Aschwanden D, Sutin AR, Luchetti M, Allemand M, Stephan Y and Terracciano A
This systematic review examined the associations of personality traits with cognitive failures and cognitive complaints across the adult lifespan. We first present three conceptual models (cognitive abilities, mental processes, and reporting bias) that could explain why personality is related to such behaviors. We then conducted five separate meta-analyses with 10-17 cross-sectional samples (N = 7,642 - 10,564) that were identified through a systematic literature search following the MOOSE guidelines. Higher neuroticism ( = .39, 95% CI [0.32, 0.45]) and lower conscientiousness ( = -.36, 95% CI [-.42, -.29]) were related to more cognitive failures and complaints. Lower scores on the remaining traits were also associated with more cognitive failures and complaints, yet to a weaker extent (extraversion: = -.14, 95% CI [-.20, -.08]; openness: = -.07, 95% CI [-.11, -.03]; agreeableness: = -.13, 95% CI [-.21, -.05]). With the current empirical evidence, it is not possible to tell which of the three conceptual models explains how much of the associations. For neuroticism, there is more support for the mental processes than the reporting bias model, but more research is needed to fully test mechanistic models. We provide several suggestions for future research to address existing limitations of the literature on personality and cognitive failures and complaints.