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ETD Abstract Container

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When Praise Falls on Deaf Ears: Is the Hedonic Impact of Compliments Muted When it Matters Most?

Cole, Shana L.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1250713915

Abstract Details

2009, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Psychology (Arts and Sciences).
When does praise fall on deaf ears? Though compliments may often provide a hefty emotional boost, at times they can fall short of packing their most powerful hedonic punches. In what may be an unfortunate paradox, compliments may feel least good when they come from those people most likely to offer them. In six studies, I explored the relationship between the person delivering a compliment and the affective response the compliment produced. Studies 1 and 2 provide evidence that compliments from loved ones are viewed as less emotionally impactful than compliments from strangers. Studies 3a-3c indicate that these effects are more likely to occur when the compliment is in an important domain and demonstrate that people are motivated to receive accurate feedback in important domains. Study 4 failed to find evidence of source effects when participants were given compliments in the lab. Methodological improvements are discussed and the important implications of this work for understanding how people process social feedback are underscored.
Emily Balcetis (Advisor)
Mark Alicke (Committee Member)
Keith Markman (Committee Member)
92 p.
Psychology; Social Psychology
social feedback; compliments; emotional consequences; self-assessment motivation; source effects; accuracy motivation

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Cole, S. L. (2009). When Praise Falls on Deaf Ears: Is the Hedonic Impact of Compliments Muted When it Matters Most? [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1250713915

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Cole, Shana. When Praise Falls on Deaf Ears: Is the Hedonic Impact of Compliments Muted When it Matters Most? 2009. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1250713915.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Cole, Shana. "When Praise Falls on Deaf Ears: Is the Hedonic Impact of Compliments Muted When it Matters Most?" Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1250713915

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1250713915
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© 2009, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.