Personality Perception in Game of Thrones: Character Consensus and Personality Projection

This study examined Big Five and Dark Tetrad personality perception for 56 characters from the popular TV show Game of Thrones—and the book series that inspired it, A Song of Ice and Fire—by 309 fans recruited from three relevant subreddits. Specifically, we examined consensus—the extent to which multiple perceivers (participants) rate one or more targets (characters) similarly—and projection (a.k.a. assumed similarity)—the extent to which perceivers (participants) see targets (characters) as they see themselves. Using cross-classified structural equation models (CC-SEMs), we found that consensus correlations were significant for all Big Five and Dark Tetrad traits, ranging from .54 for narcissism to .83 for agreeableness (M = .66, SD = .10). Projection slopes were positive (range: 0.07 to 0.29; M = 0.15, SD = 0.06) and significant for all traits except conscientiousness and open-mindedness. Thus, raters reliably assumed that characters were similar to themselves on 7 of 9 traits. Exploratory sex-differences analyses showed no sex-of-character effects, but significant sex-of-perceiver effects for conscientiousness, open-mindedness, and Machiavellianism; women perceived characters to be higher on these traits than men. In addition, women (vs. men) rated themselves as higher on extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness, but lower on Machiavellianism. We also present rankings for characters with the highest and lowest scores on each trait. Broadly, this work is important not only for understanding how our perceptions of personality generalize to fictional characters, but also how we use fiction characters—and our perceptions of their personalities—to better understand our own social world.

Couples’ perceptions of each other’s depressive symptoms: Empathic accuracy and assumed similarity bias

The link between depressive symptoms and relationship functioning has been well-documented. Evidence for affective concordance in depressive symptoms between partners suggests that couples are aware of each other’s mood and symptoms; however, there have been no direct tests of the extent to which couples accurately perceive their partner’s mental health. The present study assessed spouses’ empathic accuracy and assumed similarity bias in rating each other’s depressive symptoms using the truth and bias actor-partner interdependence model for indistinguishable dyads. We hypothesized that husbands and wives would show significant assumed similarity but not significant empathic accuracy when rating their partner’s depressive symptoms. Participants were 55 racially and ethnically diverse heterosexual couples ( N = 110 individuals) with a child between the ages of 10–16 recruited from the community. Results did not provide evidence for empathic accuracy in rating a spouse’s depressive symptoms. Instead, we found significant assumed similarity, such that ratings of a spouse’s depressive symptoms were associated with one’s own level of depressive symptoms. We also found evidence of directional bias, such that, on average, spouses overestimated each other’s level of depressive symptoms. These preliminary findings suggest that couples may not be particularly attuned to their partner’s subjective ratings of depression-related thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Future research should explore the processes accounting for partners’ perceptions of each other’s mental health, and the impact of these perceptions on relationship functioning.

Perceptions and correspondence of climate change beliefs and behavior among romantic couples

Romantic partners influence one another’s beliefs and behaviors. However, little is known about the dynamics of climate change beliefs and behaviors within romantic couples. We surveyed 758 romantic couples (N = 1,516 individuals) to investigate (a) correspondence between partners’ climate change beliefs and behaviors, (b) accuracy of people’s perceptions of their partner’s beliefs and behaviors, (c) how accuracy varies across moderating variables such as frequency of global warming discussion, and (d) whether partner perceptions are more strongly predicted by their partner’s actual beliefs and behaviors or by projections of their own beliefs and behaviors. Results indicate beliefs and behaviors commonly differ between romantic partners. Moreover, people’s perceptions of their partner’s beliefs and behaviors are predicted by their own beliefs and behaviors (assumed similarity), separate from the predictive effect of their partner’s actual beliefs and behaviors (accuracy). We use these findings to identify opportunities for future research on relationship-based interventions.

Estimation of the Global Number of Nicotine Vapers in 2020

BackgroundThe combustion of tobacco is the main cause of tobacco-related morbidity and mortality. Nicotine vaping products (NVP) are potentially disruptive innovations with considerable potential for population health. A key question is whether NVP are replacing tobacco cigarettes, which requires mapping uptake of NVP. Collecting information on nicotine use is difficult for many countries due to cost. The objective of this study was to derive a global estimate of vaping.MethodsSince 2018 we have collected information on the prevalence of NVP use. To estimate the prevalence of vaping in countries lacking information, we used the method of assumed similarity between countries in the same region and economic condition. Based on surveys, we calculated the average prevalence of vaping for each WHO region, World Bank income classification group and legal status of NVP. For each of these groups the average prevalence of vaping was calculated. These values were used as substitutes for the prevalence figures in the countries with absent data. The number of vapers was calculated by taking as the denominator the adult population. ResultsSurvey data on NVP users were available for 49 countries covering 2.8b of the adult population in 2018 and unavailable for 2.9b. Information on vaping was lacking for half of the world's population. We estimated a total of 58.1m vapers worldwide in 2018. By reference to market growth the data were adjusted to arrive at estimates for 2020. Results was fitted to revenue data at the 2018. For the year 2020, the projection is 68m vapers globally.ConclusionsMany global epidemiological studies use the method of assumed similarity between countries with shared characteristics in order to estimate missing data. The methodological limitations are likely to overestimate the global number of vapers. Our estimate of 68m nicotine vapers indicates considerable uptake given that NVP products have been available on most markets for only a decade, that there is either no support or opposition to vaping in many countries, and that countries which regulate NVP have controls over advertising and promotion. However, given the global scale of tobacco smoking at 1.1 billion, progress in adoption of alternative products is slow. Those using NVP are still a small fraction of those who smoke.

Is Perceived Similarity More Than Assumed Similarity? An Interpersonal Path to Seeing Similarity Between Self and Others

People perceive similarity between their own personality characteristics and the personalitycharacteristics of others. This association has sometimes been labeled “assumed similarity,” reflecting the interpretation that it is a cognitive bias. Another possibility, however, is an interpersonal path to perceived similarity: personality traits that are manifested in behavior may elicit similar or dissimilar behavior from others, and people form perceptions based on what they have elicited. Drawing on theories of interpersonal perception and interpersonal theory, we proposed and tested for evidence of such perceiver-elicited similarity effects, as well as trait and state assumed similarity. Previously unacquainted participants (N = 322) completed personality assessments, interacted in dyads the next day, and then reported perceptions of each other’s personalities. The results showed broad support for the expression and accurate perceptions of most Big Five domains and facets. The preregistered directional hypotheses for behavior elicitation and perceiver-elicited similarity were supported for 3 of 5 traits. Participants interpersonally elicited and then accurately perceived similarity in sociability and openness, and dissimilarity in assertiveness. We also found evidence for assumed similarity for agreeableness and energy level, but participants did not elicit similar behavior from their partners for those traits. We discuss implications for treating perceived similarity as a dynamic, multicomponent phenomenon, and the possibility that assumed similarity emerges from the repeated experience of interpersonally elicited and perceived similarity.

Social Relations Modeling of Interpersonal Accuracy

Interpersonal perception is a dyadic phenomenon with multiple perspectives; dyad members reciprocally perceive one another (perceptions), while also assessing how the other perceives them (meta-perceptions). Because accuracy is inherently dyadic, social relations modeling is appropriate for partitioning interpersonal perceptions into theoretically meaningful components called perceiver, target, and relationship. Estimation of accuracy should use only the relevant components when assessing if perceptions conform to a validity criterion. Moreover, interpersonal perception exists within a broader nomological network of perceptual phenomena. People assume that others’ traits are similar to their own traits (assumed similarity), and that others judge them as they judge others (assumed reciprocity). Each has implications for accuracy. Theoretical models are developed that specify the effect of perceivers’ assumptions about others (i.e., top-down processes), and the effect of others’ behaviors (i.e., bottom-up processes) on perceivers’ judgments of targets’ traits, and their impact on accuracy.

A new insight on structural and some functional aspects of peri-endodermal thickenings, a specific layer in Noccaea caerulescens roots

Background and Aims Cell walls of the peri-endodermis, a layer adjacent to the endodermis in alpine pennycress (Noccaea caerulescens) roots, form C-shaped peri-endodermal thickenings (PETs). Despite its specific position close to the endodermis, the assumed similarity of PETs to phi thickenings in many other species, and the fact that N. caerulescens is a well-studied heavy-metal-hyperaccumulating plant, the PET as a root trait is still not understood. Methods Here, we characterized PET cell walls by histochemical techniques, Raman spectroscopy, immunolabelling and electron microscopy. Moreover, a role of PETs in solute transport was tested and compared with Arabidopsis thaliana plants, which do not form PETs in roots. Key Results Cell walls with PETs have a structured relief mainly composed of cellulose and lignin. Suberin, typical of endodermal cells, is missing but pectins are present on the inner surface of the PET. Penetrating dyes are not able to cross PETs either by the apoplasmic or the symplasmic pathway, and a significantly higher content of metals is found in root tissues outside of PETs than in innermost tissues. Conclusions Based on their development and chemical composition, PETs are different from the endodermis and closely resemble phi thickenings. Contrarily, the different structure and dye impermeability of PETs, not known in the case of phi thickenings, point to an additional barrier function which makes the peri-endodermis with PETs a unique and rare layer.