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Affiliation in an unavoidable stressful situation: An examination of the utility theory
Author(s) -
Rofé Yacov,
Lewin Isaac
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
british journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 2044-8309
pISSN - 0144-6665
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8309.1986.tb00710.x
Subject(s) - psychology , anxiety , social psychology , developmental psychology , utility theory , psychiatry , mathematical economics , mathematics
This research compared the validity of the utility theory (Rofé, 1984) and emotional comparison theory (Schachter, 1959) regarding affiliative and conversational tendencies immediately before and after child delivery. The effects of repression‐sensitization, level of anxiety, education and birth status were also examined. Results showed that prior to delivery women tended to want to be alone, while after delivery they desired to be with others. Women who chose to be with others before delivery preferred to be silent or to talk about topics irrelevant to the birth. The tendency to avoid the company of other women immediately before delivery was stronger among repressors and more highly educated subjects. These results appear to be consistent with utility theory but not with emotional comparison theory.