Premenstrual Syndrome and Misattribution: A Self-Perception, Individual Differences Perspective

Abstract

Self-perception theory suggests that premenstrual syndrome (PMS) may arise from the misattribution of hormone-induced bodily changes. If so, individual differences in the role of bodily responses in emotional feelings, measured in a separate expression-manipulation procedure, should be related to susceptibility to PMS. In Study 1, women responsive to cues from their bodies showed significant mood changes, both negative and positive, with their cycle, over a 60 day span; whereas women relatively unresponsive to personal, bodily cues showed no consistent cycle effects. PMS was also predicted by a measure of emotional complexity. In Study 2 women whose moods were based on bodily cues also rated their moods as less positive if they were in their premenstrual week, and women unresponsive to their bodies were unaffected by their cycle. A reminder of their cycle-stage prevented PMS in the body cue group, which is a kind of discounting effect. Women who were unresponsive to their bodies also did not show PMS, and were unaffected by the reminder. 1 The name Premenstrual Syndrome implies a more severe problem than most women encounter, and the term premenstrual tension would seem more appropriate, if a bit too narrow, because tension is only one symptom. However, common usage is to refer to cycle-related emotional changes as PMS and we will follow that custom.

Facing Fear: Expression of Fear Facilitates Processing of Emotional Information

“…For example, some people report feeling happy when they are induced to put on a smile, whereas others do not (Laird & Crosby, 1974). This difference in response to bodily cues is stable over time and consistent across a wide variety of behaviors and feelings (e.g., Schnall, Abrahamson, & Laird, 2002;Schnall & Laird, 2003). To provide a measure of individual differences in bodily sensitivity that was independent of facial expressions, we assessed field-dependence.…”

Business accomplishments, gender and entrepreneurial self-image

“…Along with "newness", both growth (Carland et al, 1984;Dunkelberg and Cooper, 1982) and innovation (Hornaday, 1992, Schumpeter, 1934 are considered essential components of entrepreneurial behavior. Building 4 Self-perception theory has been applied extensively to social scientific research since the mid 1970's, but primarily to empirical research in applied social psychology (Dolinski, 2000;Uranowitz, 1975;Weiner, 1974) and clinical psychology (Robak, 2001;Schnall, Abrahamson and Laird, 2002;Haemmerlie and Montgomery, 1987). It has been compared and contrasted with cognitive dissonance theory to explain human attitudes (Weiner, 1974).…”

Empirical support for an evolutionary model of Premenstrual Syndrome.

“…Notice, too, that the "improver" pattern of change could be interpreted as "pseudo-PMS" during the follicular phase of the cycle! (Note that others (e.g., Schnall, Abrahamson, & Laird (2002)) have similarly found women experiencing improvements across the cycle as well as worsening.) In either case, the critical question seems to be: at what point in a women's cycle will heightened wellbeing be most evolutionarily advantageous?…”