Perception of cues of danger as a function of conditioned helplessness

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1976

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Abstract

Nine University of Houston police officers 40 femele Ss (who had been assigned to "helpless" or "competent" groups) were asked to rate 40 slides depicting various campus locations with reference to the decree of dancer of the locations as potential rape sites. The slides had previously beer rated for their incorporctior of seven structural criteria by a preliminary panel of 14 females. Data analysis, based or the applicatior of the multiple regression technique to the Brunswikian lens model, revealed no significant differences between "helpless" and "competent" groups in terms of overall achievement (agreement with police ratings), specific patterns of cue utilization, and total danger ratings. Significant differences were found between police end female Ss regarding the pattern of cue utilization (police showed a higher use of non-linear cue combinations) and the order of importance (emphasis) of cues in terms of weighting. Comparison of average danger ratings of the slides across all three groups revealed a trend for female Ss to rate a majority of the slides as slightly more dangerous than police. Results were discussed in reference to the lens model and role related differences in danger perception.

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