Individuals in intimate relationships engage in higher levels of HIV risk behavior than do individuals engaging in casual sex (e.g., Bowen & Michal‐Johnson, 1989; Misovich, Fisher, & Fisher, 1996). While there are many possible reasons for this consistent pattern of effects, few studies have focused on identifying the underlying causes. Therefore, same‐gender focus groups were conducted with college‐age men and women in intimate relationships as participants in order to examine, qualitatively, factors particular to relationships which are associated with HIV risk. Focus‐group members indicated that concerns about questioning interpersonal trust and commitment in their relationship through the introduction of condoms or HIV testing were often strong impediments to these practices. Recommendations for future HIV‐prevention interventions specific to individuals in relationships are discussed.
The communal orientation construct (Clark & Mills, 1979), may be useful in determining why people choose to help the homeless. Participants were presented with videotapes (Study 1) or transcripts (Study 2) of interviews with homeless people who were portrayed as having sad or neutral affect. Participants higher on communal orientation were more likely to display attitudes, empathy, and intentions supportive of helping the homeless. Portraying homeless people as being sad had a negative effect on attitudes and intentions to help them. In Study 2, communal orientation interacted with sadness such that for those high in communal orientation, sadness increased positive attitudes; while for those low in communal orientation, sadness decreased positive attitudes.
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