Heyworth, Karina (2018) The communication of interpersonal criticism: The role of interpersonal judgements of warmth and competence and affective reactions towards an individual. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Despite criticism being widely recognised as playing an important role for fostering growth and performance, research has found that people are reluctant to criticise. What is less clear, however, is whether there are certain individuals that people are less willing to criticise compared to others. The current research examined the psychological processes underpinning the reluctance to criticise certain individuals. The aims of the research were to examine whether (1) combination trait perceptions of warmth and competence lead to four distinct affective responses, (2) the perceived warmth and competence of an individual influences the willingness to criticise the individual, and (3) the affective reaction of pity towards the individual underpins the willingness to criticise the individual. Undergraduate psychology students (N = 108) read a description of an individual described as being either high or low warmth and either high or low competence. Participants then rated the emotions elicited by the individual and the extent to which they are willing to criticise the individual. High warmth and high competence individual elicited greater feelings of admiration, whereas the low warmth and low competence individual elicited greater feelings of pity. Participants were more willing to criticise individuals perceived as high in competence compared to low in competence. However, inconsistent with predictions, no effect of warmth on willingness to criticise or mediating effects were found. The theoretical and practical implications of the current research and future directions for research are discussed.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
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| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Carla Jeffries |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Psychology) |
| Date Deposited: | 14 Aug 2025 01:34 |
| Last Modified: | 14 Aug 2025 01:34 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | criticism, critical feedback, Stereotype Content Model, warmth, competence, emotions, interpersonal perception, interpersonal context, BIAS map. |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52408 |
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