Ciccocioppo, Melinda Marie
(2012)
Not Bad, For a Man: Shifting Standards in the Provision of Emotional Support Within Romantic Relationships.
Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Previous research has found mixed results in terms of gender differences in the provision of emotional support to a relationship partner. Some studies support the popular stereotype that women are more emotionally supportive than men, while others find no gender differences in the amount of emotional support men and women provide to one another in a romantic relationship. These conflicting findings may be the result of shifting standards for men and women in terms of the amount of emotional support that is expected to be provided by each within a relationship. Since women are stereotypically assumed to be more nurturing and emotionally supportive than men, more emotional support will be expected of them in comparison with men who are assumed to be unemotional and largely unsupportive of their partners. Therefore, women will be held to a higher standard than men with regard to the provision of emotional support. The purpose of the current study was to test this shifting standards effect as it relates to the provision of emotional support within dating relationships. Heterosexual male and female undergraduates currently involved in a dating relationship were asked to rate their partners’ provision of emotional support using either an objective scale or a subjective scale. It was predicted that objective ratings of emotional support provision would reflect stereotypical gender differences with women being rated as providing more support than men. However, subjective ratings, which are subject to shifting standards, would not display gender differences in the provision of emotional support. These results were predicted to be associated with within-gender social comparison and adherence to gender stereotypes. Contrary to predictions, women rated their partners as providing significantly more emotional support than men on both the objective and subjective scales. Despite this fact, analyses of items measuring within-gender and between-gender comparisons revealed that participants adhered to the stereotype that women typically provide more emotional support than men. Ratings of emotional support provision were related to adherence to benevolent stereotypes about men and women, especially for men. The implications of these surprising results and suggestions for future research are discussed.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
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| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
| Creators | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID  |
|---|
| Ciccocioppo, Melinda Marie | mmc57@pitt.edu | MMC57 | |
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| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
13 June 2012 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
17 April 2012 |
| Approval Date: |
13 June 2012 |
| Submission Date: |
19 April 2012 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
96 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > Psychology |
| Degree: |
PhD - Doctor of Philosophy |
| Thesis Type: |
Doctoral Dissertation |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Relationships
Social Support
Gender
Stereotypes |
| Date Deposited: |
13 Jun 2012 15:55 |
| Last Modified: |
15 Nov 2016 13:57 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/11904 |
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