Do Shy People Prefer to Send E-Mail?

2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 231-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guido Hertel ◽  
Joachim Schroer ◽  
Bernad Batinic ◽  
Sonja Naumann
Keyword(s):  
Social Skills ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Functional Approach ◽  
Communication Media ◽  
Media Richness ◽  
Social Situations ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Media Preferences ◽  
E Mail

Personality aspects are largely neglected in existing models of media preferences. Based on a functional approach, it is hypothesized that media preferences are affected by Extraversion and Neuroticism particularly in situations that correspond to the motivational implications of these traits. The results of a questionnaire study (N = 228) on preferences for communication media with varying levels of media richness (face-to-face conversation, e-mail) revealed Extraversion and Neuroticism as significant predictors of media preferences. Moreover, these effects were mediated by the motivational manifestations of these traits in social situations (i.e., social skills, social anxiety). Finally, the effects were moderated by the potential threat of a communication situation, showing significant trait effects particularly in social conflicts.

Electronic and face-to-face communication in mentoring relationships

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 17-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. Merritt ◽  
Lyndsey Havill
Keyword(s):  
High Potential ◽  
Mentoring Relationships ◽  
Media Richness ◽  
Mentoring Program ◽  
Interaction Frequency ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Technological Support ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Manufacturing Organization ◽  
E Mail

Purpose Many mentoring relationships incorporate electronic communication. This study aims to examine the effects of communication format and interaction frequency on career and social support felt by the protégé. Design/methodology/approach Surveys followed 39 high-potential protégés over seven months in a mentoring program at a large US manufacturing organization. Findings All pairs but one chose to communicate electronically at least 50 per cent of the time. Less mentoring support was perceived when average media richness was lower (e.g. when pairs communicated more by e-mail); however, this effect was reduced when communication was more frequent. Practicalimplications Mentors and protégés should be trained to understand that average media richness is associated with perceived support and that they should avoid using exclusively low-richness formats (e.g. e-mail). When they do need to use more low-richness formats, they should communicate more frequently. Companies should provide technological support and motivational incentives for mentoring pairs to incorporate high-richness interactions (e.g. face to face) in their mentoring relationships more often. Originality/value This study is the first to our knowledge to examine mixed-media formats in high-potential employee mentoring pairs. In contrast to past work which has randomly assigned participants to communicate only via one format, these participants were allowed to choose their interaction format for each interaction, which is more realistic. The findings have practical value for mentors and protégés in terms of balancing format and interaction frequency.

Media Preferences in Scenarios Involving Relationship Closeness and Information Valence: Evidence of Strategic Self-Presentation and Sex Differences

2014 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 217-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan-Are K. Johnsen ◽  
Per Egil Kummervold ◽  
Rolf Wynn
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Self Presentation ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Relationship Closeness ◽  
Short Messaging Service ◽  
Within Subjects ◽  
Media Preferences ◽  
Women’S Preferences ◽  
E Mail

The study investigated strategic self-presentation (relationship closeness, information valence, and sex) on hypothetical choice of media used. 145 participants (73 women, 72 men; M age = 22.3 yr.) were randomly assigned to experimental conditions where they indicated their preference for communicating with either a friend or a stranger using Short Messaging Service (SMS), e-mail, or telephone, compared to face-to-face. Information valence was manipulated as a within-subjects variable by scenarios where information was self-referential and either negative or positive. Preference to mediated channels in the two scenarios was measured as an average of self-reported scores on a scale from 1–5 where 3 indicated face-to-face communication. Relationship closeness and scenario affected media preferences. Participants had higher preference scores for mediated channels when communicating with strangers than with friends and when sharing self-referential and negative information. Only women's preferences appeared to be affected by the manipulation of relationship closeness.

The Assessment of Social Skills Deficits in the Elderly

1983 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Furnham ◽  
David Pendleton
Keyword(s):  
Social Skills ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Older People ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Social Situations ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Difficulty Scale ◽  
Social Skills Deficits ◽  
And Training

This paper tested the hypothesis that a sample of elderly people compared to a matched sample of younger people reports an increase in difficulty and social anxiety in dealing with a wide range of everyday social situations. The literature on assertiveness and social skills training with the elderly was first reviewed. Then an assertiveness and social difficulty scale was administered to a group of eighty participants divided by age and sex. It was found that older people experienced less discomfort in situations requiring assertiveness, yet were less likely to respond assertively. Older people reported higher incidence of social anxiety across forty everyday situations. In general females reported more difficulty than males, though there were no interaction effects. The results are discussed in terms of the assessment and training of social skills in the elderly.

scholarly journals Cognitive behaviour therapy for social anxiety in autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debbie Spain ◽  
Jacqueline Sin ◽  
Laura Harwood ◽  
Maria Andreina Mendez ◽  
Francesca Happé
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Social Skills ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Behaviour Therapy ◽  
Social Situations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cognitive Behaviour

Purpose Individuals who have autism spectrum disorders (ASD) commonly experience anxiety about social interaction and social situations. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is a recommended treatment for social anxiety (SA) in the non-ASD population. Therapy typically comprises cognitive interventions, imagery-based work and for some individuals, behavioural interventions. Whether these are useful for the ASD population is unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to undertake a systematic review to summarise research about CBT for SA in ASD. Design/methodology/approach Using a priori criteria, the authors searched for English-language peer-reviewed empirical studies in five databases. The search yielded 1,364 results. Titles, abstracts, and relevant publications were independently screened by two reviewers. Findings Four single case studies met the review inclusion criteria; data were synthesised narratively. Participants (three adults and one child) were diagnosed with ASD and SA. There were commonalities in interventions and techniques used: participants were encouraged to identify and challenge negative thoughts, enter anxiety-provoking social situations, and develop new ways of coping. Unlike CBT for SA in non-ASD individuals, treatment also included social skills interventions. Outcomes were assessed using self- or informant-reports. Improvements in SA, depressive symptoms, social skills, and activity levels were noted. Generalisability of results is hampered, however, by the small number of studies and participants and lack of randomised controlled trial conditions employed. Research limitations/implications Future studies should investigate how beliefs and behaviours indicative of SA can be ameliorated in individuals with ASD. Originality/value This is the first review to synthesise empirical data about CBT for SA in ASD.

scholarly journals Social Media and Social skills

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prabhakararao Sampathirao
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Skills ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
High Social Anxiety ◽  
Media Preference ◽  
Technological Communication ◽  
Internet And Social Media

Constant engagement of children with social media deprives them of face-face to face contacts and hence opportunities to practice social skills in real time situations. Technological Communication (internet and social media) preference strongly correlated with poor social skills and high social anxiety, while a greater restriction of technology in youth correlated with high social skills. One of the “benefits” advocated over and again by experts in various fields is that social media actually increases and supports the development of social skills. However, technological Communication (internet and social media) preference strongly correlated with poor social skills and high social anxiety, while a greater restriction of technology in youth correlated with high social skills in college. In this study the following five popular benefits from social media that were highlighted over and again, have been examined critically to show the reverse is true.

Response Rates in Online Surveys With Affective Disorder Participants

2020 ◽  
Vol 228 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanja Burgard ◽  
Michael Bošnjak ◽  
Nadine Wedderhoff
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Contact Mode ◽  
General Anxiety Disorder ◽  
General Anxiety ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Survey Participation ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Design Characteristics ◽  
E Mail

Abstract. A meta-analysis was performed to determine whether response rates to online psychology surveys have decreased over time and the effect of specific design characteristics (contact mode, burden of participation, and incentives) on response rates. The meta-analysis is restricted to samples of adults with depression or general anxiety disorder. Time and study design effects are tested using mixed-effects meta-regressions as implemented in the metafor package in R. The mean response rate of the 20 studies fulfilling our meta-analytic inclusion criteria is approximately 43%. Response rates are lower in more recently conducted surveys and in surveys employing longer questionnaires. Furthermore, we found that personal invitations, for example, via telephone or face-to-face contacts, yielded higher response rates compared to e-mail invitations. As predicted by sensitivity reinforcement theory, no effect of incentives on survey participation in this specific group (scoring high on neuroticism) could be observed.

Social anxiety is associated with similar emotional impairments during digital and face-to-face communication in daily life

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Doorley ◽  
Kristina Volgenau ◽  
Kerry Kelso ◽  
Todd Barrett Kashdan ◽  
Alexander J. Shackman
Keyword(s):  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Digital Communication ◽  
Instant Messaging ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
Medium Study ◽  
Reconstruction Method ◽  
Communication Behaviors ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Emotional Impairments ◽  
Emotional Safety

Background:Retrospective studies have found that people with elevated social anxiety (SA) show a preference for digital/online communication, which may be due to perceptions of enhanced emotional safety. Whether these preferences for/benefits of digital compared to face-to-face communication manifest in the real world has yet to be explored. Methods: We recruited samples of college students (N = 125) and community adults (N = 303) with varying levels of SA, sampled their emotions during digital and face-to-face communication using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) (Study 1) and a day reconstruction method (DRM) (Study 2), and preregistered our hypotheses (https://osf.io/e4y7x/). Results: Results from both studies showed that SA did not predict the likelihood of engaging in digital compared to face-to-face communication, and SA was associated with less positive and more negative emotions regardless of communication medium. Study 2 also showed that whether digital communication was synchronous (e.g., in real time via phone/video chat) or asynchronous (e.g., texting/instant messaging) did not impact the association between SA and emotions. Limitations: EMA and DRM methods, despite their many advantages, may be suboptimal for assessing the occurrence of digital communication behaviors relative to more objective methods (e.g., passively collecting smartphone communication data). Using event-contingent responding may have also yielded more reports of digital communication, thus strengthening our power to detect small, cross-level interaction effects. Conclusions:These results challenge beliefs that digital/online communication provides a source of emotional safety for people with elevated SA and suggests a greater need to address SA-related emotional impairments across digital communication platforms.

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