Honors Theses
Date of Award
2018
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Elicia Lair
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
We conducted the present study to determine how emotion and construal level contribute to obesity bias. Specifically, we examined if different emotions, such as disgust, sadness, and happiness, played a role in several different judgments of an obese versus thin individual: 1) general impressions, 2) supporting a friend, and 3) endorsing personal versus biological/environmental causes for weight. We also investigated whether a self me construal or collective we construal influenced these judgments. We additionally considered whether emotion and these construal levels would interact to influence such judgments. The current work found that emotion and construal level did not interact to influence judgments about obese or thin individuals, but an overall obesity stigma was demonstrated for general impressions. Emotion influenced whether obese targets were given friend support, as happy (vs. sad) participants were more likely to support their obese friend. Construal level influenced whether more personal attributions for weight were given for obese targets, as those with a self construal endorsed personal attributions over biological/environmental ones to a greater extent than those using a collective construal.
Recommended Citation
Curtis, Peyton D., "Effects of Emotion and Construal Level on Obesity Stigma" (2018). Honors Theses. 756.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/756
Accessibility Status
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