Biomedical subjects

Kai Sassenberg

Publications and source records attributed to Kai Sassenberg.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Knowing how to react: automatic response priming from social categories.

Four studies tested whether social category primes did not only prime descriptions, behaviors of this respective group, and general behavioral tendencies but also specific behavioral responses toward this group. The activation (Studies 1-3) and the accomplishment of such response behavior (Study 4) were found. Study 2 showed that the activation of response behavior was based on dynamic and, thus, directional representations: Social category primes activated response behavior, but response behavior primes did not activate social category targets. Furthermore, the effect was specified by the mind-set that was operating when the social category was activated: Response behavior was activated in a differentiation mind-set but not in a similarity mind-set (Study 3). The research extends behavioral priming by adding a specific response behavior perspective.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Does social identification harm or serve as a buffer? The impact of social identification on anger after experiencing social discrimination.

Research on targets' affective reactions to social discrimination has not yet addressed self- and other-directed anger at the same time. Four studies tested the hypothesis that the perceived cause of negative feedback moderates the impact of social identification on self-directed anger. In Studies 1 and 2, high levels of social identification led to less self-directed anger when negative feedback was attributed to social discrimination but not when it was attributed either to other external causes or internally. In Study 3, a cross-lagged design showed that higher identification led to less self-directed anger when negative feedback was attributed to social discrimination but not the other way around. This effect was found using scenarios (Studies 1-3) and also when using the recollection of personal experiences to manipulate attribution (Study 4). These results indicate that following social discrimination, social identification protects the self and does not increase individual vulnerability.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2002

Unsubscribe, pleeezz!!!: management and training of media competence in computer-mediated communication.

Computer-mediated communication (CMC) has created a new communication divide. Mostly, this division is due to technical and access problems. Overlooked is yet another divide in terms of user communication competence. This contribution focuses on media competence based on theories about communication competence and theories about CMC. Two field studies are presented: an analysis of a virtual seminar chat communication (22 participants, 3 weeks' duration) and an analysis of unsubscribe-failures within 2 years of a German mailing list (average of 1,000 subscriptions). Data from both studies reveal that help-seeking CMC users with low media-specific competence experience setbacks in terms of interpersonal relations and information gathering. There is a spiral of neutral to negative reactions and an increase in stress and aggression-related language in the reaction of the addressed peers. From the perspective of external raters, we found a contraintuitive result: The style, content, and wording of the message of the respondent is considered as an indicator for a less competent and socially attractive person behind the follow-up message than those of the initial message. On the one hand, media experts are needed and appreciated as technical problem-solvers; on the other hand, they might be perceived as socially narrow-minded freaks who are less interested in the task itself than in CMC-based task completion. This leads to the question of how sensibility for the social context, task orientation, and media competence can be combined (and trained for) in one person. Two competence trainings for text-based synchronous and asynchronous communication are introduced as interventions.

Communications Media↗

PubMed2002

Cognitive and strategic processes in small groups: effects of anonymity of the self and anonymity of the group on social influence.

Two studies examined cognitive and strategic processes of social influence in small groups. A first study showed that anonymity of in-group members to the self cognitively enhanced the perceived unity or entitativity of the group, while the interpersonal attraction to group members decreased. A second study showed that anonymity of the self to the group strategically enhanced differentiation from the group on non-normative dimensions. Overall, it was found that strategic and cognitive processes interact to produce social influence within the group. Implications for theories of social influence in groups are discussed.

Adult↗