LE3 .A278 2022

2022

Price, Lisa

Acadia University

Master of Science

Masters

Psychology

Psychology

Two studies sought to examine the impact of visual-temperature cues on prosocial behavioural intentions, and if these relationships would be moderated by recollected memories of caregiver sensitivity. The hypotheses and method for both studies were identical. Hypothesis 1 anticipated that individuals would show more prosocial intentions when asked to consider a friend (vs. a stranger). Hypothesis 2 expected overall that as recollected caregiver sensitivity increased, prosocial intentions would increase. This main effect of caregiver sensitivity was anticipated to be qualified by an interaction in which prosocial intentions among participants who were high (but not low) on caregiver sensitivity would be higher in the cold (vs. warm) condition while it was expected that prosocial intentions among participants who were low (but not high) on caregiver sensitivity would be higher in the warm (vs. cold) condition. Participants completed a self-report measure of recollected memories of caregiver sensitivity, and a self-report romantic attachment measure (used for exploratory analyses). Participants were then assigned randomly to view either warm or cold stimuli (images in Study 1, anagrams in Study 2), and then rate their prosocial intentions to both a friend and to a stranger. In Study 1, Hypothesis 1 was not supported. Hypothesis 2 was partially supported in that there was a significant main effect of caregiver sensitivity, such that as caregiver sensitivity increased, prosocial intentions increased. Hypotheses for Study 2 were not supported. Notable exploratory analyses in Study 1 found a marginal three-way interaction in which it was observed that securely attached individuals showed more prosocial intentions in the cold (vs. warm) condition, while insecurely attached individuals showed more prosocial intentions in the warm (vs. cold) condition.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3683