Social Decentering

Social Decentering

by Mark Redmond
Released May 2018
Publisher(s): De Gruyter Oldenbourg
ISBN: 9783110515800

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Book description

Social decentering theory was developed in response to the confusion created by the use of the term empathy and to a lesser extent, perspective-taking, to reflect a wide and varied set of human cognitive processes and behaviors. Theory of Social Decentering: A Theory of Other-Orientation Encompassing Empathy and Perspective-Taking, presents an innovative approach to the social cognitive process by which humans take into consideration the thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and dispositions of other people. The multidimensional theory and measure of social decentering represents a unifying theory that identifies and incorporates key elements imbedded in other-oriented terms.

The first chapters present the theory and development of a measure of social decentering in a complete and detailed manner examining the important role that social decentering plays in human communication.

The remaining chapters of the book examine the role that social decentering, empathy, and perspective-taking play in the development and management of interpersonal relationships, in marital relationships, in teams and group interactions, and in the workplace.

The final chapter examines the negative consequences to individuals, decisions, and relationships potentially created by engaging in social decentering.

The appendices include copies of the measure of social decentering and the measure of relationship-specific social decentering.

The book is of interest for graduates in communication studies, psychology, and sociology, and valuable for communication and social psychology scholars interested in empathy or perspective taking.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Acknowledgments
  6. Contents
  7. Preface/Introduction
  8. 1 Theory of Social Decentering Part 1: Activation, Input, and Analysis
    1. 1.1 Defining Social Decentering
      1. 1.1.1 Social Decentering as Multidimensional
      2. 1.1.2 Social Decentering as Social Cognition
      3. 1.1.3 Social Decentering as a Taking into Account
      4. 1.1.4 Social Decentering as a Focus on Dispositions Held by Others
      5. 1.1.5 Social Decentering as Contextually Bound
      6. 1.1.6 Accuracy, Depth, and Breadth of Social Decentering
    2. 1.2 The Theory and Model of Social Decentering
      1. 1.2.1 Activation
      2. 1.2.2 Input (Information Sources)
        1. 1.2.2.1 Experience-Based Information
        2. 1.2.2.2 Imagination-Based Information
      3. 1.2.3 Analysis (Information Processing)
        1. 1.2.3.1 Use of Self
        2. 1.2.3.2 Use of Specific-Other
        3. 1.2.3.3 Use of Generalized-Other
        4. 1.2.3.4 Interaction of the Three Methods: Self, Specific-Other, Generalized-Other
      4. 1.3 Social Decentering Theory and Model: Part 1 Summary and Part 2 Preview
      5. 1.4 References
  9. 2 Theory and Measurement of Social Decentering Part 2: Internal Responses, External Responses, the Multi-Dimensional Scale, and Relationship-Specific Social Decentering
    1. 2.1 Outcomes: Internal Responses
      1. 2.1.1 Cognitive Response
      2. 2.1.2 Affective Response
    2. 2.2 External Responses: Strategies and Actions
      1. 2.2.1 Factors Limiting External Responses
    3. 2.3 A Multidimensional Measure of Social Decentering
      1. 2.3.1 Item Development and Reliability
      2. 2.3.2 Facet Analysis
      3. 2.3.3 Convergent Validity: Measures of Similar Phenomenon
      4. 2.3.4 Construct Validity: Measures of Related Constructs
      5. 2.3.5 Predictive Validity
      6. 2.3.6 Discriminant Validity
      7. 2.3.7 Validity Summary
    4. 2.4 Relationship-Specific Social Decentering (RSSD)
      1. 2.4.1 Foundations of RSSD
      2. 2.4.2 A Theory of RSSD
      3. 2.4.3 Caveats of RSSD
      4. 2.4.4 Measurement of RSSD
    5. 2.5 A Preview of the Impact of Social Decentering on Social Interactions and Interpersonal Relationships
    6. 2.6 References
  10. 3 Social Decentering, Relationship-Specific Social Decentering (RSSD), and Interpersonal Relationships
    1. 3.1 Social Decentering, RSSD, and Relationship Development
    2. 3.2 Relationship Escalation
      1. 3.2.1 Pre-Interaction Awareness Stage
      2. 3.2.2 Acquaintance Stage: Introductory Phase and Casual Banter Phase
      3. 3.2.3 Exploration Stage
      4. 3.2.4 Intensification Stage
      5. 3.2.5 Intimacy Stage
    3. 3.3 Relationship De-Escalation
      1. 3.3.1 Turmoil or Stagnation
      2. 3.3.2 Deintensification
      3. 3.3.3 Individualization
      4. 3.3.4 Separation
      5. 3.3.5 Post-Interaction Effects
    4. 3.4 References
  11. 4 A Study of Social Decentering, Relationship-Specific Social Decentering (RSSD), and the Escalation and De-escalation of Relationships
    1. 4.1 Participants
    2. 4.2 Measures
    3. 4.3 Results
      1. 4.3.1 Intimacy/Stages and RSSD/Social Decentering
      2. 4.3.2 Relationship Satisfaction and Relational Assessment
    4. 4.4 Summary and Conclusions
    5. 4.5 References
  12. 5 Social Decentering and Relationship-Specific Social Decentering (RSSD) in Marital Relationships
    1. 5.1 Previous Research on Empathy and Perspective-Taking in Marriage
    2. 5.2 Empathic Accuracy and Marriage
    3. 5.3 The Measurement of Other-Orientation in Marriage
    4. 5.4 Theoretical Relationship between Social Decentering, RSSD, and Marital Satisfaction
    5. 5.5 The Role of Social Decentering and RSSD in Marriage
    6. 5.6 Social Decentering and RSSD as Complementary or Symmetrical?
    7. 5.7 A Model of Social Decentering and Marriage
    8. 5.8 The Relationship between RSSD and Marriage
    9. 5.9 A Reflection Exercise to Promote Social Decentering
    10. 5.10 References
  13. 6 A Study of Social Decentering and Relationship-Specific Social Decentering (RSSD) within Marriage
    1. 6.1 The Couples
    2. 6.2 The Measures
    3. 6.3 Research Challenges Unique to Studies on Other-Orientation
    4. 6.4 Results
      1. 6.4.1 Social Decentering
      2. 6.4.2 RSSD
      3. 6.4.3 Relationship Between Social Decentering and RSSD
      4. 6.4.4 Social Decentering and Marital Satisfaction
      5. 6.4.5 RSSD and Marital Satisfaction
      6. 6.4.6 Social Decentering, RSSD, Relationship Attitudes, and Relational Communication
        1. 6.4.6.1 How Social Decentering and RSSD Related to Self-Reported Relationship Attitudes and Communication Behaviors
        2. 6.4.6.2 How Respondents’ Level of Social Decentering Related to Their Spouse’s Perceptions of Their Relationship Attitudes and Communication Behavior
        3. 6.4.6.3 How Respondents Level of RSSD Related to Their Spouse’s Perceptions of Their Relationship Attitudes and Communication Behavior
        4. 6.4.6.4 The Impact of Respondents’ Social Decentering and RSSD on Their Perceptions of Their Spouse’s Relationship Attitudes and Communication
        5. 6.4.6.5 How the Respondents’ and Their Spouse’s Levels of Social Decentering and RSSD Affect the Respondents’ Perceptions of Their Spouse
      7. 6.4.7 Social Decentering, RSSD, and Positive Relationship Discussions
    5. 6.5 Discussion and Conclusions
      1. 6.5.1 Symmetrical (Similar) or Complementary (Different)
      2. 6.5.2 Age and Length of Marriage
      3. 6.5.3 Marital Satisfaction
      4. 6.5.4 Marital Attitudes and Communication
      5. 6.5.5 Limitations of the Study
      6. 6.5.6 Lessons Learned: Implications for Counselors and Married Couples
    6. 6.6 References
  14. 7 Social Decentering and Relationship-Specific Social Decentering (RSSD) in Context: Health Care Professionals, Teams, Organizations, and Intercultural Interactions
    1. 7.1 Health Care Professionals
      1. 7.1.1 Training Health Care Professionals to Socially Decenter
    2. 7.2 Groups/Teams
    3. 7.3 Organizations/Managers/Leaders
    4. 7.4 Intercultural Interactions
    5. 7.5 Other Contexts
    6. 7.6 References
  15. Appendix A: The Social Decentering Scale
  16. Appendix B: The Relationship-Specific Social Decentering (RSSD) Scale
  17. List of Figures
  18. List of Tables
  19. Index

Product information

  • Title: Social Decentering
  • Author(s): Mark Redmond
  • Release date: May 2018
  • Publisher(s): De Gruyter Oldenbourg
  • ISBN: 9783110515800