The Influence of Thinking Styles on Responses to Supportive Messages |
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Authors: | Bo Feng Key Jung Lee |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Communication , University of California , Davisbfeng@ucdavis.edu;3. Department of Communication , Stanford University , |
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Abstract: | Cognitive-experiential self-theory suggests that individuals with different thinking styles may respond differently to various forms of support during times of stress or difficulty. This possibility was examined in an experiment in which 365 participants read a hypothetical scenario in which they were experiencing a problematic situation, and a friend offered one of three forms of support (advice, emotional support, or emotional support plus advice). The results of the study indicated that highly rational participants tended to respond to advice more positively than less rational participants. In addition, highly experiential participants tended to rate emotional support as higher in quality than less experiential participants. |
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Keywords: | Advice Emotional Support Experientiality Rationality Supportive Communication |
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