When they support us: Expectations for social support from outgroup members

Shelby N. Carter; James T Harwood; Stephen A. Rains

doi:10.1080/03637751.2023.2274078

When they support us: Expectations for social support from outgroup members

Shelby N. Carter, James T Harwood, Stephen A. Rains

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Our research examines perceptions of emotional support messages characterized by high verbal person-centeredness (VPC) when sent from an outgroup versus an ingroup member. We conducted two experiments in which White participants (N ₁ = 206, N ₂ = 166) imagined receiving a high VPC support message from a White (ingroup) or Black (outgroup) peer. Counter to our hypotheses drawn from expectancy violations theory, both studies revealed that participants perceived high VPC from a Black peer as more expected than high VPC from a White peer. In a highly salient intergroup context (Study 1), high VPC from the outgroup predicted greater perceived support effectiveness and support provider liking and trustworthiness. Implications of our findings for intergroup and supportive communication theory are discussed.

Original language	English (US)
Journal	Communication Monographs
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/03637751.2023.2274078
State	Accepted/In press - 2023

Keywords

Social support
expectancy violations
intergroup communication
person-centeredness
prosocial behavior

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Communication
Language and Linguistics

Access to Document

10.1080/03637751.2023.2274078

Cite this

@article{a03de0a1e0504b3ebbaaa5f45ccdd37e,

title = "When they support us: Expectations for social support from outgroup members",

abstract = "Our research examines perceptions of emotional support messages characterized by high verbal person-centeredness (VPC) when sent from an outgroup versus an ingroup member. We conducted two experiments in which White participants (N 1 = 206, N 2 = 166) imagined receiving a high VPC support message from a White (ingroup) or Black (outgroup) peer. Counter to our hypotheses drawn from expectancy violations theory, both studies revealed that participants perceived high VPC from a Black peer as more expected than high VPC from a White peer. In a highly salient intergroup context (Study 1), high VPC from the outgroup predicted greater perceived support effectiveness and support provider liking and trustworthiness. Implications of our findings for intergroup and supportive communication theory are discussed.",

keywords = "Social support, expectancy violations, intergroup communication, person-centeredness, prosocial behavior",

author = "Carter, {Shelby N.} and Harwood, {James T} and Rains, {Stephen A.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 National Communication Association.",

year = "2023",

doi = "10.1080/03637751.2023.2274078",

language = "English (US)",

journal = "Communication Monographs",

issn = "0363-7751",

publisher = "Routledge",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - When they support us

T2 - Expectations for social support from outgroup members

AU - Carter, Shelby N.

AU - Harwood, James T

AU - Rains, Stephen A.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Our research examines perceptions of emotional support messages characterized by high verbal person-centeredness (VPC) when sent from an outgroup versus an ingroup member. We conducted two experiments in which White participants (N 1 = 206, N 2 = 166) imagined receiving a high VPC support message from a White (ingroup) or Black (outgroup) peer. Counter to our hypotheses drawn from expectancy violations theory, both studies revealed that participants perceived high VPC from a Black peer as more expected than high VPC from a White peer. In a highly salient intergroup context (Study 1), high VPC from the outgroup predicted greater perceived support effectiveness and support provider liking and trustworthiness. Implications of our findings for intergroup and supportive communication theory are discussed.

AB - Our research examines perceptions of emotional support messages characterized by high verbal person-centeredness (VPC) when sent from an outgroup versus an ingroup member. We conducted two experiments in which White participants (N 1 = 206, N 2 = 166) imagined receiving a high VPC support message from a White (ingroup) or Black (outgroup) peer. Counter to our hypotheses drawn from expectancy violations theory, both studies revealed that participants perceived high VPC from a Black peer as more expected than high VPC from a White peer. In a highly salient intergroup context (Study 1), high VPC from the outgroup predicted greater perceived support effectiveness and support provider liking and trustworthiness. Implications of our findings for intergroup and supportive communication theory are discussed.

KW - Social support

KW - expectancy violations

KW - intergroup communication

KW - person-centeredness

KW - prosocial behavior

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85176117882&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85176117882&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/03637751.2023.2274078

DO - 10.1080/03637751.2023.2274078

M3 - Article

SN - 0363-7751

JO - Communication Monographs

JF - Communication Monographs

ER -

When they support us: Expectations for social support from outgroup members

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this