In order to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change (e.g. increase in the global average temperature), it is important to transition to renewable energy sources, such as onshore wind energy...Show moreIn order to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change (e.g. increase in the global average temperature), it is important to transition to renewable energy sources, such as onshore wind energy, that contribute to the reduction of one of the main cause of climate change, namely global CO2 emissions. The successful implementation of wind farms largely depends on the community acceptance of the wind project. Previous studies have shown that providing citizens with a voice opportunity results in higher levels of wind farms project acceptance via increase in the perception of fair decision making and trust in the project developer. The current study was conducted on a sample of UK citizens (N = 450). It used an experimental scenario to replicate these findings and additionally to examine whether the effects of voice opportunity on project acceptance depend on expectations regarding receiving voice opportunity. We manipulated voice expectations and voice opportunity, and found support that voice opportunity has positive effects on community acceptance of wind farm projects. Additionally, we found support for our prediction that these effects are mediated by perceived procedural fairness and trust in the project developer. We did not find support about the moderating role of voice expectations on the effects of voice opportunity on project acceptance. We discussed the implications of these findings for research and practice.Show less
In an educational setting, every individual may not have equal access to opportunities (such as educational or financial resources) or outcomes (such as grades or evaluations), which could create a...Show moreIn an educational setting, every individual may not have equal access to opportunities (such as educational or financial resources) or outcomes (such as grades or evaluations), which could create a sense of inequality in the individual. Individuals may then attribute these inequalities to their personal efforts and abilities or to their circumstances. Past studies have focused on associations between inequalities (such as social or gender inequality) and educational aspirations (e.g., Guyon & Huillery, 2017; Chen et al., 2022). The present study assesses the main effects of perceived inequality and the attribution of outcomes to internal or external factors (also known as locus of control) on educational aspirations. The study also assesses whether the academic locus of control significantly moderates the impact of perceived inequality on educational aspirations. Utilizing a 1 (continuous measure of academic locus of control) x 3 (inequality: control vs. perception of inequality of outcome vs perception of inequality of opportunity) study design, participants’ aspiration scores were assessed. The participants included N= 190 students enrolled in an undergraduate program. The results from a moderated multiple regression analysis indicated that perceived inequality did not significantly affect educational aspirations. Academic locus of control significantly positively affected aspirations. Academic locus of control also has a significant moderating effect on the impact of inequality. Specifically simple effects analysis indicated that perceived inequality has a significant positive effect on educational aspirations when there is an external locus of control. The study provides an understanding that inequality in an educational context may not impact every individual in the same manner and may differ according to specific factors (such as locus of control).Show less
A negotiation between two parties can result in different outcomes, leading to either integrative or distributive outcomes. What’s more, individual aspects such as emotions and personality...Show moreA negotiation between two parties can result in different outcomes, leading to either integrative or distributive outcomes. What’s more, individual aspects such as emotions and personality characteristics can determine one’s negotiation style. In this study, dyads were divided into three conditions and took part in a negotiation task to measure whether the timing of introducing new issues influence the integrative outcomes. Emotions as measured by the PANAS-SF, and personality characteristics as measured by the Big Five Personality Trait Test tested the influence of these variables on the individual outcome. No effect of the order on the integrative outcome was found, and emotions and personality characteristics did not seem to influence the individual outcome. Future research could explore the role of being acquainted with the other negotiator and time pressure on the negotiation outcomes.Show less
The lack of contact between a debtor and creditor has been identified as a big problem in overcoming financial stress and debt. This study aimed to investigate whether inducing control results in...Show moreThe lack of contact between a debtor and creditor has been identified as a big problem in overcoming financial stress and debt. This study aimed to investigate whether inducing control results in greater willingness to contact creditors. Furthermore, financial self-efficacy was investigated as a moderator of this relationship. A total of 134 participants were assigned to either an induced control group or a baseline group. The participants were asked to recall a negative financial experience and were then presented with a fictional letter from an imaginary creditor, urging them to contact the creditor as soon as possible. The creditor letter was left unchanged from a standard creditor letter in the baseline group, while in the control group, the letter offered two possibilities to help repay outstanding debt. After reading the letter, participants were asked if they would be willing to contact the creditor. The study found that there was a significant difference in the participants' willingness to contact creditors. However, financial self-efficacy was not found to be a significant moderator. The present study provides additional support to previous findings that increasing perceived control led to a higher willingness to contact in the context of financial hardship.Show less
The present study experimentally investigated how perceptions of educational inequality impact students' aspirations and the moderating role of locus of control in the relationship between the two....Show moreThe present study experimentally investigated how perceptions of educational inequality impact students' aspirations and the moderating role of locus of control in the relationship between the two. Drawing on prior research, we hypothesised that educational aspirations would be negatively affected by educational inequality of both outcomes and opportunities, whereas it would be positively influenced by internal locus of control. Moreover, we expected locus of control to play a moderating role in the relationship between perceived inequality and aspirations, mitigating the adverse impact of inequality on the latter. Finally, based on previous findings, we expected the impact of perceived inequality of opportunities on aspirations to be comparatively weaker for students with internal academic locus of control when contrasted with perceived inequality of outcomes. A sample of 190 U.S. college students were randomly assigned to watch one of three educational inequality manipulation videos (i.e. opportunities, outcomes, and control). They were then given a questionnaire which assessed their perceptions of inequality, their academic locus of control and their educational aspirations. Only one of our hypotheses was supported by our results. While our findings align with existing evidence that internal locus of control positively affects educational aspirations, there was no main effect of perceived inequality on students’ goals. Notably, our study suggests that higher perceptions of inequality may have motivating effects, which, however, appear exclusive to students with an external locus of control. Given these unexpected findings, further research is warranted for a deeper understanding of the psychological dynamics behind students’ goal-setting processes.Show less
As urbanization rises, increasing studies have been focusing on the restorative effects of nature and the benefits nature has on physical health and well-being. Exposure to nature is interlinked...Show moreAs urbanization rises, increasing studies have been focusing on the restorative effects of nature and the benefits nature has on physical health and well-being. Exposure to nature is interlinked with prosocial tendencies such as helping behaviour and generosity. However, little is known about the relationship between nature and other prosocial behaviour. The current research studied the link between exposure to nature and social mindfulness, a specific and effortless form of prosocial behaviour. Additionally, we tested how restoration and dispositional awe relate to it. We hypothesized that a walk in nature would make people more socially mindful. Our sample (N=16) did not show a significant difference. We expected restoration and dispositional awe to relate positively with social mindfulness after the walk. A marginal effect was found that restoration increased social mindfulness. No evidence was found that dispositional awe affected the relationship between nature and social mindfulness. Findings and limitations are discussed.Show less
Disadvantaged groups can use collective action to improve their conditions. The present research targets the motivation to participate in collective action among individuals with a migration...Show moreDisadvantaged groups can use collective action to improve their conditions. The present research targets the motivation to participate in collective action among individuals with a migration background and how this is influenced by the presence of a social norm of equality and by an individualistic or collectivistic cultural background. This study had an experimental factorial 2x2 design and participants were Dutch residents with a migration background (N = 297). I predicted that the presence of an ingroup social norm of equality would increase the collective action intentions and that this effect would be stronger among people with a collectivistic cultural background than among those with an individualistic cultural background. I did not find evidence for the first hypothesis that an ingroup norm of equality (vs. control) increases the collective action intentions of people with a migration background. Furthermore, I did not find evidence that an individualistic or collectivistic culture of the country of origin of the parent would strengthen the collective action intentions. The findings, their implications and suggestions for further research are discussed.Show less
Research master thesis | Psychology (research) (MSc)
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The present research investigated the association between Machiavellianism and different behavioural responses in a novel economic game. The main purpose of the research was to reveal the patterns...Show moreThe present research investigated the association between Machiavellianism and different behavioural responses in a novel economic game. The main purpose of the research was to reveal the patterns of behaviours associated with the Machiavellian personality in a setting in which acting in a cooperative and competitive manner are both feasible options.The results of the research suggest that there is a negative association between Machiavellianism and cooperation. Individuals with higher level of Machiavellianism tended to invest more resources to competition, relative to cooperation. No association was found between Machiavellianism and choosing peace in the economic game. Lastly, performance in the game could, also, not be predicted by one’s Machiavellian inclinations. We can conclude that, even when given the possibility to compete and cooperate at the same time, Machiavellians still tend to exhibit a higher propensity towards non-cooperative responses and a slightly higher propensity towards competitive behaviours compared to low Machiavellians.Show less
Previous studies on uncertainty have acknowledged the efficacy of job control as a way to cope and enhance job satisfaction, although the literature using intolerance of uncertainty remains...Show morePrevious studies on uncertainty have acknowledged the efficacy of job control as a way to cope and enhance job satisfaction, although the literature using intolerance of uncertainty remains relatively scarce. Our study aimed to address this gap by investigating the mediating role of job control in the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and job satisfaction. The proposed hypotheses were that (i) there would be a statistically significant negative association between intolerance of uncertainty and job satisfaction and that (ii) the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and job satisfaction would be mediated by job control. The study was carried out on a sample of 109 adults, working in the Netherlands. Mediation analysis using PROCESS Procedure by Andrew Hayes was used. Contrary to expectations, hypotheses were not supported. A positive significant relationship was found between job control and job satisfaction. Results and implications of the study have been discussed.Show less
The present study aims to investigate the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty at workplace on employee’s intentions of turnover and the effect of perceived organizational support on...Show moreThe present study aims to investigate the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty at workplace on employee’s intentions of turnover and the effect of perceived organizational support on this relationship. The study hypothesizes that employees who are intolerant to uncertainty will report more intentions of turnover. Furthermore, it is also expected that perceived organizational support will moderate this relationship. The hypotheses were investigated on 137 working participants, age ranged from 18 to 64 years old, via online survey. Participants filled out demographics form, intolerance of uncertainty scale, perceived organizational support scale and turnover intention scale. Findings have found no significant support for both hypotheses. However, a significant, negative relationship between perceived organizational support and turnover intention has found, suggesting that when organizational support is perceived high, employees are less intended to turnover.Show less
Individuals often experience uncertainty about the productivity of Public Goods (PG), causing them to face the possibility that the PG is either high or low in productivity. This study examined the...Show moreIndividuals often experience uncertainty about the productivity of Public Goods (PG), causing them to face the possibility that the PG is either high or low in productivity. This study examined the impact of such productivity uncertainty on cooperation and investigated whether risk propensity moderated this relation. It also explored the effect on cooperation when the productivity is so low that contributing would imply a loss. Participants (N=120) played public good games which varied in levels of uncertainty. Findings revealed that risk seekers (high risk propensity) contribute more than risk avoiders (low risk propensity) in games with uncertainty without potential loss than in games without such uncertainty (baseline game). Furthermore, both risk seekers and risk avoiders contribute less to games with uncertainty with potential loss compared to the baseline game. The potential for loss strongly impacts cooperation decisions, and risk propensity predicts cooperation in situations of uncertainty without potential loss.Show less
The present study was an attempt to investigate whether passive, non-intervening bystander presence in a victimization situation containing sexual harassment at the workplace worsens a victim’s...Show moreThe present study was an attempt to investigate whether passive, non-intervening bystander presence in a victimization situation containing sexual harassment at the workplace worsens a victim’s mental health compared to actively intervening or no bystanders. By using a vignette study, 159 female participants completed a survey and were allocated to one of three conditions (passive bystanders, active bystanders, and no bystanders). Afterwards, all participants indicated their agreement to statements representing the four fundamental needs of belonging, self-esteem, meaningful existence, and control, self-, perpetrator, and bystander blame, work stress, and acceptance of sexual harassment myths. The results indicate that all four fundamental needs decreased, and bystander blame increased in victims experiencing the situation with passive compared to active or no bystanders. The study reveals important theoretical insights in bystander research combined with sexual harassment at the workplace and offers practical implications to avoid the negative impact of passive bystander presence during victimization in organisations.Show less
Literature on the impacts of financial scarcity on cognition has demonstrated its detrimental effects in many areas related to executive functions. However, a better understanding of how financial...Show moreLiterature on the impacts of financial scarcity on cognition has demonstrated its detrimental effects in many areas related to executive functions. However, a better understanding of how financial scarcity impacts cognitive persistence in an adult sample is needed. This study investigated whether perceiving oneself in a scarcity situation impacts persistence levels when engaging in a cognitive task. It was hypothesized that the activation of financial scarcity feelings through an experimental task negatively influenced persistence levels in participants who were placed in a scarcity condition. Additionally, it was expected this effect to be stronger for participants who experienced actual financial stress, than for those who currently face no similar concerns. To test these hypotheses, two hundred and one participants engaged in an online study where financial scarcity was activated through an experimental paradigm, namely, the Household task. Persistence levels were assessed with a measure of time and endurance, the Anagram-Riddles task. The findings did not confirm the hypotheses. Although that difference in persistence levels between the groups did not reach statistical significance, the results highlight the importance of assuming the impacts of financial scarcity not only from a deficit model where negative impacts are expected but also from a strengths-based model where adaptive responses serve proximal functions in the context where they take place.Show less
The anticommons dilemma is not a well known dilemma, but wellworth studying as it has a practical impact on individuals and society when it occurs. It occurs when multiple people co-own a resource...Show moreThe anticommons dilemma is not a well known dilemma, but wellworth studying as it has a practical impact on individuals and society when it occurs. It occurs when multiple people co-own a resource or property who have to grant each other permission in order to use or sell the resource. This study explores whether in an anticommons dilemma a participant’s feeling of ownership over a resource increases when he or she has to put effort into obtaining it. Half of the participants (Ntotal = 208) had to exert effort by doing an effort task in order to influence their Willingness To Accept (WTA) value, i.e. the amount of points they are willing to accept as payment in order to let the other co-owner use the resource. The participants also filled in a Psychological Ownership scale. Effort did not significantly influence psychological ownership, but psychological ownership did significantly influence WTA. There was no significant WTA difference between the (un)equal effort treatment conditions. The effects of effort are further analysed and discussed.Show less
This research builds on previous research by Horlings and Massaar (2020) and Luhulima and Bennema (2021). The aim of this study was to examine if there is a difference in how observers judge both...Show moreThis research builds on previous research by Horlings and Massaar (2020) and Luhulima and Bennema (2021). The aim of this study was to examine if there is a difference in how observers judge both the help provider and the help itself, depending on whether a motive to appear moral (morality) or a motive to appear social (sociability) was used. An experiment was conducted in which participants (N = 209) read a scenario about a group offering help based on the strategic motive to appear moral or social. Within this scenario it was manipulated whether the underlying motive for the help was in line with the actual traits of the help provider. The scenario was followed by a questionnaire. Results of this study showed that participants had a more positive attitude towards the help providers when they acted in line with their actual traits (reality congruence) compared to when they acted inconsistently with who they truly are (reality incongruence). Unexpectedly, no significant results were found that showed a difference in attitude towards the help provider depending on morality and sociability. Other results showed that help providers induced more negative attitudes when they behaved inconsistently with who they truly are, compared to when they behaved in line with their actual traits, because they were perceived as more hypocritical. Considering we were unable to find any significant results of the strategic use of warmth dimensions, more research on this topic is necessary. Suggestions for future research have been made.Show less
