An Analysis of Social Behaviors in Stressful Situations Using Q-Sort Data

Abstract

This work has undergone a double-blind review by a minimum of two faculty members from institutions of higher learning from around the world. The faculty reviewers have expertise in disciplines closely related to those represented by this work. If possible, the work was also reviewed by undergraduates in collaboration with the faculty reviewers. AbstractTheories suggest that humans may respond to stressful situations by engaging in certain social behaviors aimed at minimizing the effects of stress. Though these social responses during stress have been investigated in many ways, this study adds to the literature by using a standardized Q-sort technique to examine them. When participants characterized situations as more stressful, they reported a greater tendency to distance themselves from others and lesser expressions of warmth. For female participants only, when situations were described as more anxiety-inducing, participants reported greater seeking of assurance. Though male and female participants did not differ with respect to their reports of the stressfulness of situations, they did differ with respect to their reported behaviors in those situations, with female participants reporting more expressing of warmth and male participants reporting more distancing from others.