The results of the Gump and Kulik experiment in which the women participants preferred to wait with the other "future shock victims" illustrated the use of
A) attribution to alleviate fear and anxiety.
B) social cognition to cope with personal emotions.
C) denial to cope with negative emotions.
D) the defense mechanism of sublimation in coping.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The women participants in the experiment were using social cognition by seeking out others who were experiencing similar emotions in order to cope with their own emotions. They were relying on social comparison in order to make sense of their feelings and reactions. Option A is incorrect because attribution refers to explaining the cause of a behavior, not coping with emotions. Option C is incorrect because the women were not denying or avoiding their negative emotions, but rather seeking out others to validate and cope with them. Option D is incorrect because sublimation refers to channeling negative emotions into more socially acceptable activities, which was not demonstrated in this experiment.

The Results of the Gump and Kulik Experiment in Which