This article examines the utility of the Male-Male Competition Stress Test (MCST), a measure that assesses perceptions of male-male competition stress, in predicting outcomes such as poor body image in males. This is analogous to previous examinations of the utility of the Female-Female Competition Stress Test (FCST), which measures same-sex competition stress in females, in predicting body image and disordered eating in women. Results suggest that the Male-Male Competition Stress Test may be helpful to clinicians as an early indicator of susceptibility to desires for body modification, including excessive weightlifting and steroid use.
Although altruistic actors are generally evaluated favorably, recent studies have shown that altruism that deviates from social norms can receive mixed evaluations. This study replicates previous evidence that norm-deviant altruism is perceived as less favorable than moderate altruism and examines whether the lower assessment of extremely generous actors stems from observers' expectations that such actors will also violate norms in unrelated contexts. Using a vignette modeled on the dictator game, 130 participants evaluated two types of distributors (equal vs. give-all distributors) on (a) liking and respect and (b) the perceived likelihood of engaging in other norm-violating behaviors. Consistent with previous research, the give-all distributor was liked less than the equal distributor, whereas the levels of respect did not differ. Contrary to our hypothesis, the participants perceived the equal distributor as more likely than the give-all distributor to violate other norms. These results support previous findings that altruism can be evaluated unfavorably when it deviates from social norms and suggest that the reputational costs of extreme generosity may not be driven by expectations of broader norm deviance. Public Significance Statement Although people usually view generous behavior positively, evaluations become mixed when generosity transcends what social norms prescribe. Traditional evolutionary theories of cooperation do not fully explain this phenomenon, highlighting the need for further research into how extreme altruism shapes reputation.
