Westminster Psychology Professor Presents Research

Dr. Sandra Webster, chair and professor of psychology at Westminster College, recently presented her research at the 2003 American Psychological Association Annual Conference in Toronto, Canada.

"South Korean and American Negative Emotion Attribution: Gender and Age," examined Han, a negative emotional state caused by something outside the individual's direct control, as a function of gender and generation.

Participants of Webster's study included the families of 105 young women attending a South Korean women's university and 104 students attending college in Pennsylvania. The initial research was completed as a Fulbright Lecturer in South Korea.

"Traditionally, Han was caused by the history of foreign domination of Korea by the hierarchical nature of its society," wrote Webster. "Given this history, attributions for negative emotion states are likely to be different between South Koreans and Americans."

Her research continues, "Koreans are hypothesized to place more responsibility on the self or situation because of their collective culture. Furthermore, they are expected to make more positive attributions for older individuals and men, given their Confucian traditions. It is also hypothesized that Americans will make more self attributions for a negative emotional state. Finally, they are expected to attribute more self-causation to persons in their own age and gender group."

Webster, who has been with Westminster College since 1983, earned her undergraduate degree, master's degree, and Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University.

For more information, contact Webster at (724) 946-7238 or e-mail websters@westminster.edu.