The effects of grammatical structure and feelings of power on risk behavior prevention

The strategic use of questions and assertions within an interpersonal interaction can indicate and alter the relative power levels of each dyad member. The current research examined the effect of grammatical category (question vs. assertion) on the outcomes of an interaction in which one member is designated to help the other change a risky behavior. In two studies, participants were primed to feel powerful or powerless via a writing task and then matched by assigned power condition to act as the provider (powerful) or recipient (powerless) of help regarding binge drinking. Study 1 established that powerful subjects express stronger intentions to engage in risky behavior when they make statements, but powerless subjects intend to act riskiest when they ask questions. Study 2 tested the hypothesis that questions are particularly risky for powerless participants because they encourage biased recall, which simultaneously influences perceived subjective norms.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Tannenbaum, Melanie

Contributors dc:contributor

• Albarracin, Dolores

• Risk behavior
• persuasion
• power
• syntax

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2011 Melanie Tannenbaum

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/29777

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/29777