Personality and Social-Evaluative Anxieties Associated With Rating Discomfort in Anticipated Positive and Negative Feedback Conditions

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships between select personality dimensions, social-evaluative anxieties, and rating discomfort. Undergraduate students were told they would be giving test performance feedback to a confederate and were instructed on how to give this feedback, to some degree, based on condition. Correlation and regression analyses revealed some interesting patterns. Neuroticism was found to be significantly related to feelings of discomfort only under the positive feedback condition, while extraversion was found to be significantly related to feelings of discomfort only under the negative feedback condition. A significant inverse relationship was also found between both agreeableness and conscientiousness levels, and in reaction to giving positive feedback. Additional findings and implications are discussed.

A study on the effect of music listening on people with high neurotic tendency as evidenced by negative affective scores and physiological responses

“…For example, as compared to the low neurotic group, the high neurotic group was highly sensitive in processing a negative stimulus, while under-performing in the processing of a positive stimulus ( Chan et al, 2007 ). Participants with a higher neurotic score were also found to be less likely to accept positive compliments or feedback, which were wrongly regarded as insincere or mistaken ( Sawyer et al, 2002 ).…”

A study on the effect of music listening on people with high neurotic tendency as evidenced by negative affective scores and physiological responses

“…For example, as compared to the low neurotic group, the high neurotic group was highly sensitive in processing a negative stimulus, while under-performing in the processing of a positive stimulus ( Chan et al, 2007 ). Participants with a higher neurotic score were also found to be less likely to accept positive compliments or feedback, which were wrongly regarded as insincere or mistaken ( Sawyer et al, 2002 ).…”

Giving feedback: Development of scales for the mum effect, discomfort giving feedback, and feedback medium preference

“…Furthermore, there is an opportunity to relate other individual differences, such as personality traits, to the concepts examined here. Although some research has already linked feedback discomfort and the Big Five personality dimensions (Sawyer, Hollis-Sawyer, & Pokryfke, 2002), additional research of this nature may provide a richer understanding of rater behavior. Finally, future research should address cultural differences that must be bridged when providing feedback in the global business environment.…”

Keeping mum in clinical supervision: private thoughts and public judgements

“…As we outline below, the MUM literature suggests that keeping mum is pervasive . More usefully, the MUM effect research also notes that individuals keep mum in different ways and ‘vary in the extent they engage in these behaviors’ . Through exploring these behavioural manifestations of the MUM effect, we may find some solutions to the perennial challenges of asking clinical supervisors to communicate their judgements, provide valuable feedback for improvement and prevent those who have not met the standard from progressing.…”

A study on the effect of music listening on people with high neurotic tendency as evidenced by negative affective scores and physiological responses

“…For example, as compared to the low neurotic group, the high neurotic group was highly sensitive in processing a negative stimulus, while under-performing in the processing of a positive stimulus ( Chan et al, 2007 ). Participants with a higher neurotic score were also found to be less likely to accept positive compliments or feedback, which were wrongly regarded as insincere or mistaken ( Sawyer et al, 2002 ).…”

Giving feedback: Development of scales for the mum effect, discomfort giving feedback, and feedback medium preference

“…Furthermore, there is an opportunity to relate other individual differences, such as personality traits, to the concepts examined here. Although some research has already linked feedback discomfort and the Big Five personality dimensions (Sawyer, Hollis-Sawyer, & Pokryfke, 2002), additional research of this nature may provide a richer understanding of rater behavior. Finally, future research should address cultural differences that must be bridged when providing feedback in the global business environment.…”

Keeping mum in clinical supervision: private thoughts and public judgements

“…As we outline below, the MUM literature suggests that keeping mum is pervasive . More usefully, the MUM effect research also notes that individuals keep mum in different ways and ‘vary in the extent they engage in these behaviors’ . Through exploring these behavioural manifestations of the MUM effect, we may find some solutions to the perennial challenges of asking clinical supervisors to communicate their judgements, provide valuable feedback for improvement and prevent those who have not met the standard from progressing.…”

A study on the effect of music listening on people with high neurotic tendency as evidenced by negative affective scores and physiological responses

“…For example, as compared to the low neurotic group, the high neurotic group was highly sensitive in processing a negative stimulus, while under-performing in the processing of a positive stimulus ( Chan et al, 2007 ). Participants with a higher neurotic score were also found to be less likely to accept positive compliments or feedback, which were wrongly regarded as insincere or mistaken ( Sawyer et al, 2002 ).…”

Giving feedback: Development of scales for the mum effect, discomfort giving feedback, and feedback medium preference

“…Furthermore, there is an opportunity to relate other individual differences, such as personality traits, to the concepts examined here. Although some research has already linked feedback discomfort and the Big Five personality dimensions (Sawyer, Hollis-Sawyer, & Pokryfke, 2002), additional research of this nature may provide a richer understanding of rater behavior. Finally, future research should address cultural differences that must be bridged when providing feedback in the global business environment.…”

Keeping mum in clinical supervision: private thoughts and public judgements

“…As we outline below, the MUM literature suggests that keeping mum is pervasive . More usefully, the MUM effect research also notes that individuals keep mum in different ways and ‘vary in the extent they engage in these behaviors’ . Through exploring these behavioural manifestations of the MUM effect, we may find some solutions to the perennial challenges of asking clinical supervisors to communicate their judgements, provide valuable feedback for improvement and prevent those who have not met the standard from progressing.…”