Doctoral Dissertation Research: Modeling the Diffusion of Non-normative Ideas and Behavior

扩散理论描述了信息或行为如何在一个社区或社会系统中传播的过程。当传播的对象是一个可以隐藏和污名化的秘密时，传播是如何变化的？虽然扩散理论在社会科学领域得到了广泛的研究，但仍存在一些空白。本项目解决了其中两个空白。首先，虽然几乎所有的扩散研究都考察了广泛扩散的物质，但本文研究的是一个截断的扩散过程。其次，本研究的重点是扩散项目的性质以及它们如何促进这种截断。在以往的扩散研究中很少强调这一点。这项研究将检验两个假设。首先，该研究假设个人只会向他们认为会支持他们的人透露秘密，他们的知己也会有类似的行为。保守秘密者认为会对该信息作出敌对反应的人将不会被告知该秘密。其次，该研究假设一个简短的传播会发生，而这个传播会在已经对这个秘密持接受态度的知己的方向上被扭曲。结果是两极分化，一组知道秘密，因此与被污名化的人接触，而另一组不知道秘密，也不故意与被污名化的人接触。为了验证这些假设，该研究将测量受访者？了解他们亲自认识的妇女的堕胎史。流产史是本研究的一个典型秘密，因为它的普遍性，隐藏能力和相关的耻辱。三分之一的美国妇女一生中有过堕胎经历；2005年进行了120万例堕胎；四分之一的怀孕以流产告终。这项研究将从一项具有全国代表性的美国成年人调查中收集数据，这些数据将用于比较关于流产和堕胎史的知识和信息传播。更广泛的影响扩散理论被用来解释态度和行为的变化在各种各样的社会情况，从高中辍学，少女怀孕，肥胖和采用处方药的使用。理论的改进将有助于更好地理解这些和其他社会问题，以及意见的形成和维持。

SES-1103078Michael HoutSarah CowanUniversity of California Berkeley Diffusion theory describes the process of how information or behavior spreads within a community or a social system. How does that diffusion change when the object of the diffusion is a secret that is concealable and stigmatized? While studied widely across the social sciences, there remain several gaps in diffusion theory. This project addresses two of those gaps. First, while nearly all diffusion studies examine items that diffuse widely, this dissertation research examines a truncated diffusion process. Second, this research focuses on the diffusing items' qualities and how they facilitate this truncation. This is rarely emphasized in previous diffusion studies. The research will test two hypotheses. First, the research hypothesizes that individuals will disclose their secrets only to people they think will be supportive and their confidants will behave similarly. Those the secret-keeper believes will react hostilely to the information will not be told the secret. Second, the study assumes that an abbreviated diffusion will occur that is distorted in the direction of confidants who already hold accepting attitudes toward the secret. The result would be polarization whereby one group knows secrets and therefore has personal exposure with stigmatized individuals whereas one group does not know the secrets and does not knowingly have contact with stigmatized individuals. To test these hypotheses, the research will measure respondents? knowledge of the abortion history of women whom they know personally. Abortion history is an archetypal secret for this study, due to its prevalence, ability to be concealed and associated stigma. One in three American women has an abortion during her lifetime; 1.2 million abortions were performed in 2005; a quarter of pregnancies end in abortion. This study will collect data from a nationally representative survey of American adults that will be used to compare knowledge and diffusion of information regarding miscarriage and abortion histories. Broader ImpactsDiffusion theory is employed to explain attitude and behavior change in a wide variety of social situations, from dropping out of high school, teenage pregnancy, obesity and the adoption of prescription drugs use. An improvement in the theory would be useful in helping to better understand these and other social problems as well as opinion formation and maintenance.