Browsing by Author "Boon, Susan D."

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    An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth: an investigation into what makes revenge satisfying
    (2009) Alibhai, Alishia Mahmud; Boon, Susan D.
    The goal of the present research was to explore the portrayal of revenge in popular film and to investigate aspects of revenge episodes that make them psychologically satisfying from an observer's point of view. I designed the first study to (a) examine the nature of revenge as it is portrayed in popular revenge movies, and (b) reveal the specific elements of a revenge episode that evoke observer feelings of satisfaction. I employed a policy-capturing approach in the second study to investigate experimentally the extent to which the following three elements affect people's judgments of the satisfaction surrounding a revenge episode: whether innocent bystanders are harmed, whether the avenger is a "good" versus "bad" person, and whether the avenger experiences consequences due to the revenge act. Based on the findings of Study 1, revenge appears to be portrayed as a highly violent action mainly sought by "good" White males against "bad" White males in response to an equally violent action. Altruistic revenge and avenger regret were discovered to be significantly associated with feelings of satisfaction. Moreover, I discovered justice to be a key underlying variable of feelings of satisfaction stemming from an observation of revenge. Study 2 revealed that participants weighted harm to innocent bystanders more heavily than the avenger's character and the avenger's character more heavily than consequences to the avenger when psychological satisfaction was at issue. The present findings are important in revealing the kinds of variables that make revenge satisfying to observers and thus, the factors that might affect people's assessments of their own and others' revenge.
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    Emotional Risk-Taking in Romantic Relationships
    (2019-12-20) Turnbull, Katherine; Ellard, John H.; Boon, Susan D.; Szeto, Andrew C.H.; Sinclair, Shane
    This study explores the phenomenon of emotional risk-taking (ERT), a component of self-disclosure that has exclusively been addressed in counseling, social work, and behavioral therapy literature. Brown (2012) has developed a theoretical rationale stating that individuals who embrace vulnerability (i.e., ERT) experience a deeper connection with others. Brown’s views are influential for the themes within the study, especially distinguishing trust from ERT. ERT is examined in the context of romantic relationships, as self-disclosure has been proposed to be one of the most critical influences of intimacy. Participants (N = 290) were recruited via Prolific, an academic survey host. The participant’s ages ranged from 18-74 years old (M = 33.47, SD = 10.57), with 54.1% identifying as female, 44.8% identifying as male, .7% identifying as non-binary, and .3% preferring not to disclose. The durations of the romantic relationships ranged from 6 months to 54 years (M = 9.11, SD = 8.53). Participants completed open-ended questions concerning a hypothetical scenario necessitating emotional risk-taking. Participants also completed measures of trust, intimacy, guilt and shame, ERT, and self-disclosure. Findings indicated positive relationships between ERT, trust, intimacy, and self-disclosure. As well, moderation and mediation analyses were conducted, indicating that ERT, as predicted, partially mediates the relationship between self-disclosure and intimacy. In addition, self-disclosure, along with ERT, mediated the relationship between trust and intimacy. Limitations and future research directions are discussed.
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    Examining Adolescent Sexting, Sexual Behaviour, and Mental Health Using Variable-Centered and Person-Centered Analyses
    (2020-07-21) Mori, Camille Misora; Madigan, Sheri L.; Schwartz, Kelly Dean; Boon, Susan D.; Kopala-Sibley, Daniel C.
    Introduction: Much of the research on adolescent sexting has been dedicated to understanding associated risks, such as mental health problems, substance use, and risky sexual behaviours. However, the literature has yielded inconsistent findings. Moreover, results have largely been based on variable-centered analytical approaches, which do not capture individual differences in sexting behaviours. Objectives: 1) Consolidate results examining sexting and associated risks via a meta-analysis in order to clarify inconsistent findings; 2) Use a person-centered analysis to assess heterogeneous subgroups of youth that display differential engagement in sexting and sexual behaviours. Methods: The current thesis is presented in two parts. Study 1 used a meta-analysis to synthesize results from 23 studies and 41,723 participants (52.1% female; Mage = 14.9). It examined associations between sexting and variables related to sexual behaviour and mental health. Sex, age, publication date, and study quality were examined as moderators. Study 2 used a latent class analysis with data from a sample of 894 youth (55.8% female; Mage = 17.04), from a longitudinal study based in southeast Texas. Classes were identified through participants’ patterns of responses to sexting and sexual behaviour indicator variables. Sex and ethnicity were analyzed as predictors, and depressive symptoms as an outcome, of class membership. Results: Study 1: The meta-analysis found significant associations between sexting and sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, lack of contraception use, delinquent behaviour, symptoms of anxiety/depression, and substance use. Moderator analyses revealed that associations were stronger among younger adolescents. Study 2: The latent class analysis revealed four distinct classes: No sexting-Low sex (42.2%), Sexting-Low sex (4.5%), No sexting-moderately risky sex (28.3%), and Sexting-Moderately risky sex (24.9%). Females and youth identifying as an ethnic minority were less likely to be in groups characterized by higher rates of sexting. Group membership predicted depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Through the use of both variable-centered (meta-analysis) and person-centred analyses (latent class analysis), the current thesis clarifies results pertaining to sexting and correlated risks, and lends nuance to broad correlational findings through the examination of individual differences. Taken together, results can be used to inform initiatives aimed at educating youth, parents, and teachers about adolescent sexting.
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    Examining Judgements of Ambiguous Extradyadic Behaviours Using a Policy Capturing Method
    (2020-09-15) Salavati, Sara; Boon, Susan D.; Ellard, John H.; Sears, Christopher R.; Fantl, Jeremy
    Ambiguous extradyadic behaviours such as buying/receiving gifts or talking on the phone can be perceived as infidelity under certain circumstances and therefore cause distress and conflicts in romantic relationships. The research presented here used a policy capturing method to illuminate the relative role of contextual factors (secrecy, frequency of the behaviour, and familiarity with the rival) in perceiving whether an ambiguous act crosses the line from benign to infidelity. In two sessions, 43 participants completed individual difference measures and rated 30 different vignettes in which the ambiguous behaviour (i.e., direct messaging on social media) was kept constant, but levels of contextual factors varied. Multilevel modelling revealed that participants perceived secrecy as the most important contextual factor in deciding whether an ambiguous behaviour was infidelity. Keeping a behaviour secret breaches important relational rules such as honesty and trust and indicates an awareness of guilt. Frequency of the behaviour was the second most influential contextual factor. High frequency of engaging in an extradyadic behaviour can signal an interest and investment in the extradyadic relationship. Familiarity was the least important contextual factor, suggesting its effect might depend on other contextual factors such as the rival’s attractiveness. Reactive jealousy and attachment avoidance as individual difference variables partially predicted participants’ judgements; however, such results need to be replicated in a bigger sample. The findings have implications for couples discussing the boundaries of their relationship and recognizing the source of emotional distress in the occurrence of ambiguous behaviours. Future research can benefit from investigating other contextual factors and responses to the perceived threat following an ambiguous behaviour.
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    Exploring Cyber-Based Dating Aggression during Adolescence using Ecological Momentary Assessment
    (2019-05-29) Willan, Valerie; Schwartz, Kelly Dean; Boon, Susan D.; Drefs, Michelle A.
    This study examined Cyber-Based Dating Aggression (CBDA) using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA). CBDA was defined as intentional harmful behaviour through communication technology within a dating relationship that a romantic partner wants to avoid (Attewell & Fritz, 2010; Corcoran, Guckin, & Prentice, 2015; Piitz & Fritz, 2009). EMA is characterized by repeated measurements of a specific event as participants go about their daily lives (Hektner, Schmidt, & Csikszentmihalyi, 2007). The final sample included 52 participants, five of whom indicated they experienced CBDA over the three-week data collection period. Three incidents of sexting, two incidents of a privacy breach, and one incident of control were reported. Participants who experienced CBDA reported that it had little to no negative effect on their relationship satisfaction. Written responses related to the behavioural reactions of participants who experienced CBDA were also collected; most responses included some type of positive communication with their partner, with other reactions including substance use or doing nothing. As there are few studies exploring online dating aggression during adolescence, this study contributed to a growing area of research by attempting to employ a real-time data collection strategy (EMA) with a small sample of older adolescents. Given the small sample size, inferential statistical analysis was not possible, and the study is largely descriptive in nature, limiting generalizability to the larger population.
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    Getting even: an investigation of revenge in romantic relationships
    (2005) Deveau, Vicki; Boon, Susan D.
    Two studies examined the types of events that spark desires for revenge in romantic relationships, actual or plotted revenge behaviours, motives for seeking revenge, functional and dysfunctional consequences of getting even, and the reasons individuals sometimes forgo getting even with their romantic partners even though they desire revenge. In Study One, participants were interviewed regarding one of three types of experiences with revenge (i.e., functional, dysfunctional, wanted to seek revenge but did not). The results revealed that intimates take revenge in response to a variety of sparking events (e.g., violations of relationship rules, violations or threats to the social identity of the relationship). Also, intimates are motivated to seek revenge in order to achieve a number of goals (e.g., redress the avenger's feelings, restore justice concerns) and they identify both functional ( e.g., corrected, educated, and/or deterred the avengee) and dysfunctional ( e.g., revenge is not the right thing to do, negative consequences for the romantic relationship) consequences of their retaliatory actions. Finally, intimates sometimes desired revenge but choose to forgo revenge due to a number of reasons ( e.g., not right thing to do, goals would not be achieved). In Study Two, participants completed several individual difference measures ( e.g., forgiveness, vengefulness, belief in a just world, self-esteem) shown in previous literatures to relate to revenge behaviours and cognitions. A week later, they were assigned to one of two recall conditions (i.e., sought revenge, wanted to seek revenge but failed to do so) and completed a series of checklists derived from the results of Study One. Contrary to expectations, individual difference measures did not relate to participants' endorsements on the checklists. However, participants' overall responses on the checklists were generally consistent with the results of Study One. These studies contribute to the literature on revenge in romantic relationships by providing much needed descriptive data that complements the few existing studies on this phenomenon and provides an important foundation on which future investigations of revenge in romantic relationships can build upon.
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    Infidelity in dating relationships: undergraduate students' unrealistic expectations regarding the likelihood that their partners are unfaithful
    (2011) Watkins, Sarah J.; Boon, Susan D.
    Dating infidelity occurs frequently and can have devastating consequences for both the relationship and the individuals involved. The present studies investigated whether individuals in dating relationships have unrealistic expectations regarding the likelihood of their partners being unfaithful, what factors are related to expectations, and whether expectations are related to outcomes following infidelity. In the first study, 162 undergraduate students whose partners had been unfaithful to them completed an online questionnaire that retrospectively examined their expectations prior to the infidelity as well as their actual experiences with infidelity. In the second study, 209 undergraduate students in dating relationships were asked about their current expectations for infidelity as well as how they imagine they would respond were they to discover that their partners had been unfaithful. As hypothesized, both studies provided evidence that individuals have unduly optimistic expectations regarding the likelihood that their partners would be unfaithful. Using several comparison points, including published prevalence rates of infidelity, I found that individuals significantly underestimated the likelihood of infidelity. Individuals who had suspected that their partners might be unfaithful or who had experienced a current partner's infidelity reported significantly higher estimates of the likelihood that their partners would be unfaithful than those who had not. My results also suggested that unduly optimistic expectations may be beneficial in the absence of infidelity; as estimates of the likelihood of infidelity decreased, relationship satisfaction increased. Further, unrealistic expectations did not appear to be detrimental in the aftermath of infidelity in that they were not related to forgiveness or relationship dissolution. Together, these studies make important contributions to our understanding of expectations for infidelity in dating relationships and show that, by and large, individuals do not expect that their partners will be unfaithful. As this was the first study to examine expectations for infidelity in dating relationships, further studies are needed to replicate the current findings and to examine other potential costs and benefits of unrealistic expectations. Clinical implications will be discussed, including how this research can be used to normalize an individual's experience following an infidelity. My results will also be considered from an evolutionary perspective.
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    "Outside" and "insider" perspectives on Canadian interracial relationships
    (2009) Malhi, Rebecca L.; Boon, Susan D.
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    Planning for the Future: A Mixed-Methods Study
    (2020-01-23) Speirs, Calandra; Konnert, Candace A.; Boon, Susan D.; Knight, Christine A.
    Later life is marked by numerous transitions, including becoming a caregiver and potential relocation; however, little is known about how aging individuals plan for their future care needs. Older adults currently make up 17.5% of the Canadian population, with projected increases over the next decade (Statistics Canada, 2019). Thus, it is essential to understand how individuals plan (or avoid planning), and perceived aids and barriers, to best support Canada’s aging population. A mixed-methods design was used to gain information on potential predictors of planning behaviour, and to better understand the lived experience of individuals planning outside of traditional nuclear families. A theoretical model integrating the theory of planned behaviour (Ajzen, 1991) and self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985) developed by Hagger and Chatzisarantis (2009) to predict health behaviour may have utility for predicting planning behaviour but has not been previously used to predict future care planning. The sample was comprised of 385 adults, aged 50 and older (mean age= 66.5, SD = 9.3, range = 50-92) who completed a series of questionnaires either online or in-person. Path analysis was used to test the utility of the integrated model, and possible alternative models including known or hypothesized predictors of planning (e.g., age, education). A modified integrated model emerged with good model fit (X2M, = 3.95, df = 5, Scaled X2M = 4.09, RMSEA = 0.00-0.06, CFI = 1.0, SRMR = .02), though the addition of theoretically and empirically relevant predictors did not improve model fit. Qualitative interviews were used to better understand the perspectives of single and/or childless individuals who are planning for future care needs and to provide complementary information on the process of future planning. Ten individuals were criterion sampled for interviews; the interviews were then coded using a combination of content and constant comparison analysis with an inductive coding process (Leech et al., 2010). Diverse narratives clustered around 23 themes, including control over the future and the concept of relying on others. Together, these results expanded understanding of the factors and context that influence the lived experience of planning. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.
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    Revenge via Social Media: Social Engagement and its Impact on the Reputations of Actors Involved
    (2022-05-03) Paulin, Mélanie; Boon, Susan D.; Ellard, John H.; Schwartz, Kelly D.; Nordstokke, David W.; Bevan, Jennifer L.
    After being hurt, harmed, or provoked in interpersonal relationships, individuals sometimes use social media platforms to get even with relational partners. The use of this medium to get even adds a layer of complexity to consequences at stake for actors involved in that vengeful posts can reach widespread audiences in very little time and remain in the cyber-space indefinitely, causing the possibility for continuing harm. In this research, I examined some of the repercussions associated with being involved in an act of social media revenge. I explored these repercussions both from the actors’ perspectives (i.e., the victim and the perpetrator of revenge via social media) in Study 1 (N = 478) as well as from the perspective of observers in Study 2 (N = 244) using hypothetical Facebook revenge scenarios. In Study 1, I found that victims expected their reputations to suffer as a consequence of being targeted online, whereas perpetrators did not believe that enacting revenge via social media would negatively impact their reputations. Additionally, social engagement associated with vengeful social media posts did not influence actors’ perceptions following the revenge. In Study 2, I found that observers of revenge via social media judged both victims and perpetrators more negatively following the revenge, and that social engagement associated with vengeful posts influenced observers’ judgements of perpetrators. The findings of this research revealed important implications such that being involved in a single and comparatively mild act of revenge via social media can negatively affect the reputations of actors involved, perpetrators may be blinded to the consequences of enacting revenge via social media, and a poster-observer discrepancy in terms of the effects of social engagement may exist. Other implications as well as the limitations and future directions of this research are also discussed.
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    Self-esteem and revenge in romantic relationships
    (2012) Sciban, Rowan; Boon, Susan D.
    The objective of this study was to test whether people respond to a perceived transgression by engaging in revenge to restore their own self-regard and a sense of personal power in their relationship. Participants (N =80; 70 female) were recruited from the University of Calgary undergraduate research participation system and brought their romantic partners with them to the lab. Participants were assigned to a control group or an experimental group. The latter experienced an acceptance-threat and then were given the opportunity to take revenge or not, against their romantic partner. Results indicate that the study was successful in causing people to experience an acceptance-threat, but was not successful in getting people to take revenge. This failure was likely due to errors such as a lack of clarity regarding how to take revenge when given the chance, and sampling bias causing an over-representation of individuals very high in self-esteem.
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    Tendencies towards underhelping following a mild provocation: a behavioural investigation into the nature of revenge between strangers versus intimates
    (2005) Alibhai, Alishia Mahmud; Boon, Susan D.
    The purpose of this study was to determine whether people would be more or less likely to seek revenge against a romantic partner or a stranger following an in-lab provocation. Dating couples attended each session and were led to believe they were playing two computer games either with their own romantic partner or a stranger. In actuality, all participants played both games with a pre-programmed computer. Whereas the first game served as the provocation, the second game provided participants with an opportunity to retaliate in the form of an "underhelping" behaviour. The predicted interaction was not found. Regardless of who they believed their game partner was, provoked participants retaliated to a greater extent than not provoked participants and, independent of whether they were provoked or not, participants were less likely to underhelp their romantic partners than strangers.
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    Unraveling the Dynamic Nature of Creativity in the Workplace
    (2018-08-23) Chow, Sam; Griep, Yannick; O'Neill, Thomas A.; Bankins, Sarah; Hershcovis, M. Sandy; Boon, Susan D.
    Recent research and theories on workplace creativity have construed workplace creativity as a dynamic process. Past research, however, largely examines the phenomenon using crosssectional studies that are unable to test these dynamic theories of creativity. Moreover, scholars have traditionally studied the subject from a motivational perspective or from an affective state perspective. By doing so, the literature is oversimplifying and possibly distorting its understanding of workplace creativity. The primary goal of the study is two-fold: to test a dynamic theory of creativity and to integrate both a motivational and affective states model of creativity. Using daily survey data across ten days from 127 full-time employees, I found no support for a dynamic theory of creativity or integrated model of creativity. However, exploratory methods revealed that creativity is an outcome of both high activation positive affective states and goal orientations. Moreover, I found that this relationship was mediated by creative self-efficacy. Taken together, these exploratory results partially support an integrated model of creativity, albeit not being a dynamic phenomenon. Drawing from the current findings, theories and methodology are advanced towards providing a more robust test of a dynamic theory of creativity. Based on these findings, human resource practitioners are encouraged to engage in creative self-efficacy building by providing employees with feedback on their creative work. Moreover, practitioners should understand the importance of workplace affect in the role of creativity. Practitioners are encouraged to create a positive atmosphere to allow employees to express their creativity
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    Where Does Culture Fit in? A Discourse Analysis of Intercultural Couples’ Talk
    (2020-04-30) Lopez Bilbao, Sofia Belen; Strong, Tom; Sesma-Vazquez, Monica; Boon, Susan D.
    The number of intercultural couples in Canada has been on the rise in the last few decades, making it increasingly likely that family counsellors will work with such clients. There is extensive research outlining the challenges that intercultural couples face due to their cultural differences. This study adopts a strengths-focused approach to study intercultural couples, by recruiting self-defined healthy intercultural couples. In this research I studied the way that couples conversationally construct their experiences of being in an intercultural relationship. Seven intercultural couples were interviewed as to the role that culture plays in their relationship. I approached this research from a social constructionist paradigm, and used Potter and Wetherell’s (1987) method of discourse analysis. Couples spoke from three interpretative repertoires when they constructed the role of culture in their relationship: (a) culture isn’t defining, (b) culture plays a part sometimes, and (c) cultural differences add to the relationship. The results indicate that healthy intercultural couples acknowledge cultural differences but they do not make them central to their relationship. The results are discussed in the context of the available literature, and they are used to make recommendations for practice and further research.