A Theory of Guilt Appeals: A Review Showing the Importance of Investigating Cognitive Processes as Mediators between Emotion and Behavior

Exploring Narcissism in Suicidal Ideation Using the Italian Version of the Guilt and Shame Proneness Scale

Objective

Several theoretical and clinical observations lead to the hypothesis that pathological narcissism could be associated with suicide ideation due to the difficulty in regulating shame in a functional way. The present study investigated the roles of guilt, shame and rivalry in the relationship between pathological narcissism and suicidal ideation.

Methods

A set of self-report questionnaires was completed by a sample of 936 Italian adults. These included the Italian version of the Guilt and Shame Proneness (GASP) scale, the Pathological Narcissism Inventory, the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation, and the Narcissism Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire.

Results

A structural equation model that tested the factorial structure of the GASP and its invariance produced satisfactory results. Moreover, shame was a significant factor in the relationship between narcissism grandiosity and suicidal ideation. However, beta regression coefficients were low.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that despite clinicians should consider the presence of suicidal ideation in patients with pathological narcissism and their maladaptive regulation of shame, the relationship between these variables is complex and deserve further investigation.

How to effectively communicate health information on social media depending on the audience's personality traits: An experimental study in the context of organ donation in Germany

OBJECTIVE

The shortage of organs donated for transplantation is a global concern. Even though increasing awareness can boost organ donation registration rates (thus leading to a higher number of available organ transplants), public organ donation campaigns lack effectiveness and are rarely tailored to audiences. To further enhance the effectiveness of digital health (i.e., organ donation) communication, we assessed the perception of social media organ donation campaign strategies (i.e., transformational, informational, neutral) as a function of personality traits (i.e., Big Five).

METHOD

Data was collected through an online experiment with 1000 participants (i.e., German citizens between 18 and 70 years) who were recruited via Facebook and Prolific between Jun-Aug 2022. Perceived message effectiveness of the organ donation posts was measured on a 5-point Likert scale applying the AIDA model and consequently analyzed using multiple regression analyses.

RESULTS

Messaging strategy applied in the social media campaigns served as a predictor for message effectiveness depending on the personality traits of the audience when controlling for demographics and donor status. Extraversion was positively associated with higher message effectiveness of the transformational post while neuroticism showed a significant positive association with informational content. Agreeableness was positively correlated with transformational as well as informational post effectiveness. Furthermore, higher perceived post effectiveness increased the likelihood to sign-up for further organ donation information.

CONCLUSION

Our results show that Instagram in Germany is an underleveraged but potentially effective platform to spread organ donation knowledge. Based on our results, we urge public health authorities to revisit and start tailoring their (digital) health (i.e., organ donation) campaigns to audiences (i.e., personality traits) to increase their effectiveness.

When guilt works: a comprehensive meta-analysis of guilt appeals

Introduction

Guilt appeals are widely used as a persuasive approach in various areas of practice. However, the strength and direction of the persuasive effects of guilt appeals are mixed, which could be influenced by theoretical and methodological factors.

Method

The present study is a comprehensive meta-analysis of 26 studies using a random-effects model to assess the persuasive effects of guilt appeals. In total, 127 effect sizes from seven types of persuasive outcomes (i.e., guilt, attitude, behavior, behavioral intention, non-guilt emotions, motivation, and cognition) were calculated based on 7,512 participants.

Results

The analysis showed a small effect size of guilt appeals [g = 0.19, 95% CI (0.10, 0.28)]. The effect of guilt appeals was moderated by the theoretical factors related to appraisal and coping of guilt arousal, including attributed responsibility, controllability and stability of the causal factors, the proximity of perceiver-victim relationship, recommendation of reparative behaviors, and different outcome types. The effect was also associated with methods used in different studies.

Discussion

Overall, the findings demonstrated the persuasive effects of guilt appeals, but theoretical and methodological factors should be considered in the design and testing of guilt appeals. We also discussed the practical implications of the findings.

Prosocial behaviour axioms and values: Influence of gender and volunteering

To promote prosocial behaviour, in the present study, we observed the human values that may predict it within the realms of the transcendental views of life, society's shared culture and the world of personal and interpersonal affections. To do this, we started with two hypotheses: (1) prosocial behaviour differs according to gender and participation in volunteering; and (2) the variables of transcendental values, cultural development, affective development, gender and participation in volunteering predict prosocial behaviour.To do so, we conducted a quantitative study based on the cross-sectional, social analytical-empirical research method. We used a validated instrument with a large sample of 1,712 individuals living in the multicultural context of the Spanish city of Melilla, located in North Africa and one of only two land borders between Europe and Morocco. Values that could promote prosocial behaviour were grouped into four dimensions to locate relevant factors that helped identify which values are linked to specific actions, both formal and informal, through an inferential analysis focusing on regression and multivariate analysis of variance.Our findings highlighted the linkage of the transcendent dimension of the individual in relation to his or her level of prosocial behaviour and the role of women as socialising agents.

The Emotional Effects of Gain-Loss Frames in Persuasive Messages about Sun Protection on Health Promotional Outcomes: Evidence from an Experimental Study

Although the importance of emotions for the effects of gain-loss framed messages has been supported, the emotional effects of mixed frames have not been sufficiently investigated. To fill this gap, this experimental study exposed participants (N = 154) to single gain- or loss-framed vs. mixed frame messages about sun-protection outcomes. Integrating the idea of mixed frames with the concept of emotional flow, data were analyzed using a serial mediation model with emotional experience (as indexed by valence and arousal) and intention as factors mediating the effect of shifts on actual behavior, measured two weeks after message exposure. Results demonstrate that mixed messages and their impact on emotional experiences are not generally more effective than pure gain or pure loss messages. However, the application of mixed frame or purely loss-framed messages offers a higher potential to increase behavioral health intentions (resulting in respective behaviors) than messages simply focusing on gain frames.

My Family Accounts Much for Me: How Does Work-to-Family Conflict Lead to Unethical Pro-Family Behavior

Although unethical behaviors are prevalent in the workplace, little is known about the unethical behavior aiming at benefiting one's family (unethical pro-family behavior, UPFB). In this paper, we leverage self-determination theory to explore the association between work-to-family conflict and UPFB. Specifically, we hypothesize and corroborate a positive relationship between work-to-family conflict and UPFB, and such relationship is mediated by family motivation. Moreover, we identify two conditional factors, guilt proneness (at first stage) and ethical leadership (at second stage), in moderating the proposed relationship. In study 1 (scenario-based experiment, N = 118), we tested the causality of work-to-family conflict and intention to perform UPFB. In study 2 (field study, N = 255), we tested our hypotheses by employing a three-wave time-lagged survey design. As expected, results from two studies fully supported our predictions. Overall, we explain whether, how, and when work-to-family conflict will lead to UPFB. Implications of theory and practice are then discussed.

Donate for your Secrets: Relationship between Secrecy, Guilt and Donation Behavior

Previous research has well documented the negative sides of secrecy, ignoring its potential constructive aspects. Based on the concept of compensatory behavior, this study conducted two experiments with 532 adults to explore the mediating role of felt guilt between secrecy and donation, and the moderating role of moral identity. Study 1 (N = 272) showed that felt guilt mediated the relationship between secrecy and donation behaviors. Study 2 (N = 260) validated the mediation effect of Study 1 and further indicated that the mediated path was stronger for participants with higher moral identity. Specifically, participants with higher moral identity felt more guilty and donated more after secrecy than those with lower moral identity. The results of this study not only expand the constructive consequences of secrecy but also add more ways to appeal for donations.

Reversing the Antibiotic Resistance “Yelp Effect” Through the Use of Emotionally Framed Responses to Negative Reviews of Providers: Questionnaire Study

Background

The overuse of antibiotics has rapidly made antimicrobial resistance a global public health challenge. There is an emerging trend where providers who perceive that their patients expect antibiotics are more likely to prescribe antibiotics unprompted or upon request. Particularly, health care providers have expressed concern that dissatisfied patients will provide disparaging online reviews, therefore threatening the reputation of the practice. To better deal with the negative reviews and inform patients, some health care staff directly respond to patients’ online feedback. Engaging with patients’ online reviews gives providers an opportunity to prevent reputational damage and improve patients’ understanding of the antibiotic resistance problem.

Objective

We aim to test the effectiveness of different response strategies to the negative patient online reviews on the readers’ perceptions of the health care provider and their perceptions related to antibiotics resistance.

Methods

Two experiments were conducted to examine the impact of message tactics (apologizing, inducing fear or guilt) that can be employed by health care providers when responding to patients’ negative online feedback related to not receiving an antibiotic.

Results

Overall, our results demonstrated positive impacts of responding to patients’ online reviews. In study 1, we found apologetic messaging and use of emotional appeals in the response were effective in making readers feel more favorable toward the message. Readers also expressed a greater credibility perception toward the provider and willingness to visit the clinic when emotional appeals were used. Findings from study 2 largely supported the effectiveness of a fear-based response in improving the readers’ credibility perceptions and willingness to visit the clinic. The fear-inducing information was particularly effective among parent readers.

Conclusions

This paper demonstrated that a strategic response to online patient complaints could prevent reputational damage and minimize the potential negative impacts of the review. The results also glean insight into the step toward developing a novel intervention—crafting a persuasive response to patients’ negative feedback that can help improve the understanding of antibiotic resistance problems.

The Role of Guilt and Empathy on Prosocial Behavior

Research on the effects of guilt on interpersonal relationships has shown that guilt frequently motivates prosocial behavior in dyadic social situations. When multiple persons are involved, however, this emotion can be disadvantageous for other people in the social environment. Two experiments were carried out to examine the effect of guilt and empathy on prosocial behavior in a context in which more than two people are involved. Experiment 1 investigates whether, in three-person situations, guilt motivates prosocial behavior with beneficial effects for the victim of one’s actions but disadvantageous effects for the third individual. Participants were faced with a social dilemma in which they could choose to take action that would benefit themselves, the victim, or the other individual. The findings show that guilt produces disadvantageous side effects for the third individual person present without negatively affecting the transgressor’s interest. In Experiment 2, participants were faced with a social dilemma in which they could act to benefit themselves, the victim, or a third person for whom they were induced to feel empathic concern. Again, the results show that guilt generates advantages for the victim but, in this case, at the expense of the transgressor and not at the expense of the third person, for whom they were induced to feel empathic concern. Therefore, guilt and empathy seem to limit the transgressor’s interest. The theoretical implications are discussed.