The Mary Junck Research Colloquium Series

Fall 2008

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School of Journalism and Mass Communication
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Dr. Mary Frances Luce

Professor
Fuqua School of Business
Duke University

 

 

 

 

Nov. 6

 

Contagion, Other's Risks, and HIV: Downsides of Locus of Control

This research asks how perceptions of control over one's health influence processing of communications about health risks and protection. In our experiments, we provide pamphlets outlining HIV risks and take behavioral intentions towards preventive measures. While we see benefits of increased internal health locus of control on health at baseline, we find that perceived control over personal health leads to reduced disease prevention intentions when death is made salient or when others are the focus of risk assessment. We attribute these interactions to a tendency to generalize one's own health behaviors to others, paradoxically decreasing the perceived need to engage in protection.

If you would like additional details or information
about the colloquium series or have any suggestions,
please contact

Sriram "Sri" Kalyanaraman
E-mail: sri@unc.edu
Phone: 919-843-5858