The effects of the sex and race of subject and the racial accent and dependency of confederate on aggressiveness and altruism

• Main Authors: Bonpin, Ed Walter, Manabat, Winston, Paz, Eliseo
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1983
• Subjects: Aggressiveness; Altruism; Helping behavior; Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_honors/12
• Institution: De La Salle University

Given a local setting, the study attempted to assess the effects of the sex and race of subject and the racial accent and dependency of confederate on aggressiveness and altruism. The independent variables of racial accent and dependency were manipulated by the researchers whereas sex and race were ex post facto variables aggressiveness and altruism were the dependent variables of the study. To provide a causal-comparative analysis of the abovementioned variables, a 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 field experiment research design was utilized. 320 subjects were randomly chosen from the 1983-84 Metro Manila Telephone Directory (Section A). The subjects were randomly assigned to four experimental conditions Chinese Accent - Dependent Chinese Accented - Non Dependent Pilipino Accent - Dependent and Pilipino Accent - Non Dependent. Each subject was rated by two independent judges using a self-constructed rating scale. To determine the reliability of the two judges, a simple percentage reliability formula was used. A four-way analysis of variance was employed in analyzing data. The results of the study indicate significant effects of sex and race of subjects on aggressiveness. It was found that Filipinos tend to be more aggressive than Chinese. Moreover, males showed more aggressiveness than females. Neither racial accent nor dependency made a difference in the aggressive reactions to a wrong number phone call, indicating that the results did not approach statistical significance. However, interaction effects show that: (1) Filipino showed more aggressiveness to a caller with a Chinese accent (2) Filipino males were more aggressive to a caller with a Chinese accent (3) Filipino males were more aggressive to a dependent caller and (4) Filipinos were more aggressive to a non-dependent caller with a Chinese accent. The results imply that differences which might have been due to sex stereotypes and racial prejudices affect aggressive behavior. Furthermore, the results of the study show significant effects of race of subject on altruism, indicating that Chinese tend to give help more than Filipinos do. Moreover, Chinese were more helpful to a caller with a Chinese accent and they showed more predisposition to help a non-dependent caller. The results imply preferences in help giving as evident from the altruistic responses of Chinese.