Research Article

They heard a cry: psychosocial resources moderate perception of others' distress†

  1. Kent D. Harber1,*,
  2. Michal Einev-Cohen1,
  3. Fran Lang2

Article first published online: 15 JUN 2007

DOI: 10.1002/ejsp.448

Issue

European Journal of Social Psychology

European Journal of Social Psychology

Volume 38, Issue 2, pages 296–314, March/April 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Harber, K. D., Einev-Cohen, M. and Lang, F. (2008), They heard a cry: psychosocial resources moderate perception of others' distress. European Journal of Social Psychology, 38: 296–314. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.448

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, Newark, USA

  2. 2

    Department of Pediatrics, Washington University, St. Louis, USA

*Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, Smith Hall, 101 Warren Street, Newark, NJ 07102, USA.

  1. †

    Portions of this research were presented at the International Conference of Research on Emotions, New York.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 26 FEB 2008
  2. Article first published online: 15 JUN 2007
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 2 MAY 2007
  4. Manuscript Received: 24 AUG 2006

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Abstract

Two studies tested whether psychosocial resources affect perception of another's distress. Participants' had their resources depleted, left unchanged, or boosted by elaborately recalling either someone who had betrayed them, a neutral person, or a close and trusted other, respectively. Participants then listened to disturbing baby cries, and rated how much distress the cries conveyed. As predicted, participants who recalled a betrayal subsequently heard the cries as conveying more distress than did other participants (Study 1). However, recalling a betrayal did not amplify cry ratings if, prior to cry rating, betrayal-related thoughts and feelings were disclosed (Study 2). The moderating effect of disclosure on cry ratings indicates that boosting resources (disclosure) can counteract the effects of resource depletion (betrayal). Results in both studies remained significant even after controlling for mood. This research is the first to show that social contexts, and emotional disclosure, each affects perception of others' distress. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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