Precarious Manhood Observation

An article I found which relates to ‘’ The Effect of Physical Warmth on Social Behaviour ‘’ is Hard Won and Easily Lost: A Review and Synthesis of Theory and Research on Precarious Manhood’’ (Hauser,2014, Journal of Experimental Psychology) This article is centralised around discovering whether humans are more likely to help those who are sad and in need or those who are happy and positive. Empathy- based theories suggest that help should be directed to those who are distressed. On the other hand, affiliation based theories believe that aid should be given to those who are happy and positive. As humans, we have the mental ability to recognise when someone is emotional and can respond with empathy. In theory, we should help those who are in need and distressed. However,
This study was performed in an everyday situation: holding the door for a stranger. The hypothesis for the first three studies supports the social affiliation theory. This theory suggests that more people are likely to help happy people rather than sad people. The study involved the observation of 823 university students. The investigator waited for a solo participant who was not distracted and displayed a happy, sad or neutral expression. Study 1 was conducted in the doorways of six public university buildings. Study 2 was set in a doorway of the university hospital and study 3 was conducted at the entrance of the university health services. Despite studies 2 and 3 being set in locations which anguish is likely, happy investigators received more aid than sad. Study 4 involved participants reading descriptions of a hypothetical situation which involved having a conversation with a happy and a sad patient. Participants were given two transcripts of the conversations and then had to decide which patient they wanted to