Sex Differences in Emotional and Behavioral Responses to HIV+ individuals’ Expression of Distress
January 2007
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Two studies examined the influence of HIV+ individual’s expression of distress on perceivers’ emotional and behavioral reactions. In Study 1 (N = 224), HIV+ individuals’ expression of distress was experimentally manipulated by means of vignettes. Men and women reacted differently when persons with HIV conveyed distress: women reported stronger feelings of pity, whereas men reported stronger feelings of anger. Study 2 (N = 136) replicated this study in a realistic experimental setting with additional behavioral measures. Similarly, women reported stronger pro-social behavior than men when confronted with a person with HIV who conveyed distress. Results of the present study shed additional light to the self-presentational dilemma of ill persons. Conveying moderate levels of distress may evoke prosocial responses in women, but not in men.
- distress
- reaction
- study
- expression
- condition
- perceiver
- women
- participant
- person
- patient
- target
- sex differences
- michael
- difference
- feeling
- disease
- psychology
- behavior
- gender role
- effect
