Abstracts » Social sciences

Seasickness as a self-fulfilling prophecy: raising self-efficacy to boost performance at sea

Article Abstract:

Applying the self-fulfilling prophecy (SFP) approach to combating seasickness, the authors experimentally augmented the self-efficacy of naval cadets by telling them than they were unlikely to experience seasickness and that, if they did, it was unlikely to affect their performance at sea. Naval cadets (N=25) in the Israel Defense Forces were randomly assigned to experimental and control conditions. At the end of a 5-day training cruise, experimental cadets reported less seasickness and were rated as better performers by naive training officers than were the control cadets. There was a nonsignificant tendency for the experimental effects to be stronger among cadets of lower initial self-efficacy, suggestive of behavioral plasticity. Reducing seasickness by verbally enhancing self-efficacy is discussed as an application of "verbal placebo." These findings extend the generalization of the SFP-at-work model and suggest new arenas for its practical application. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Self-fulfilling prophecy, Motion sickness

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Self-efficacy training to speed reemployment: helping people to help themselves

Article Abstract:

The impact of training designed to boost general self-efficacy (GSE) on job-search activity and on reemployment was assessed among 66 persons unemployed for up to 18 weeks. Randomly assigned experimental participants attended 8 behavioral-modeling workshop sessions over 2 1/2 weeks. The manipulation check showed that training boosted GSE as intended. The workshop also increased job-search activity, confirming the hypothesis that raising GSE motivates intensification of effort. The treatment increased reemployment among participants low in initial GSE but not among those with high GSE. The greater plasticity of individuals low in GSE suggests that the pratical utility of training is moderated by initial GSE. The authors conclude that individuals of low GSE should be given priority access to scarce behavioral-modeling training resources. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Employee training

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Individuals without jobs: an empirical study of job-seeking behavior and reemployment

Article Abstract:

The purpose of this study was to test a longitudinal model of the demographic, person, and situational variables predictive of job-seeking behavior and reemployment. Participants completed surveys 2 months and 5 months following a layoff. Multiple regression analysis revealed gender, conscientiousness, and job-seeking support as significant predictors of job-seeking behavior. Logistic regression analysis showed age and job-seeking support to be significant predictors of reemployment. Post hoc analyses highlighted an Age x Job-Seeking Frequency interaction as a predictor of reemployment. This interaction suggests that older individuals who engaged in frequent job seeking were less likely to find work than younger individuals who engaged in frequent job seeking. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

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