Papers by Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair
Sexuality Research and Social Policy
Introduction How we perceive social-sexual behavior, and to what extent we consider such behavior... more Introduction How we perceive social-sexual behavior, and to what extent we consider such behavior to be sexual harassment, is dependent on several situational factors. Prototypical #MeToo features (male actor and female target, higher status, repeated, private behavior, sexualized physical contact) have previously been shown to increase the degree to which social-sexual behavior is perceived as sexual harassment. The effect of those features needs to be investigated for types of harassment that involve same-gender sexual harassment and harassment of LGBTQ + people. To gain a wider perspective on the perception of social-sexual behavior as sexual harassment, this preregistered study aims to examine same-gender interactions and lesbian and gay actors and targets, in addition to replicating earlier findings about #MeToo features in opposite-sex constellations. Methods We applied five hypothetical scenarios to a Norwegian online sample of 888 participants between 18 and 60 (58.3% cis wo...
This study examined the warzone stressors: killing in combat, experiencing personal threats, or t... more This study examined the warzone stressors: killing in combat, experiencing personal threats, or traumatic witnessing during deployment in relation to psychological distress, alcohol consumption and quality of life at long-term follow-up. The study was conducted in two samples of Norwegian veterans who had served in Afghanistan (Study 1, N = 4,053) or in Lebanon (Study 2, N = 10,605), respectively. Data were collected through two postdeployment mental health surveys conducted by the Norwegian Armed Forces Joint Medical Services. Using linear regressions, we investigated the impact of warzone stressors on posttraumatic stress symptoms, depression, anxiety, insomnia, alcohol use, and quality of life. In study 1 (Afghanistan veterans), killing was not a significant predictor of psychological distress, alcohol use, or quality of life, when
No Support for Two Hypotheses About the Communicative Functions of Displaying Disgust: Evidence From Turkey, Norway, Germany, and Croatia
Evolutionary Psychology, Jul 1, 2023
In recent years, researchers have discovered much about how disgust works, its neural basis, its ... more In recent years, researchers have discovered much about how disgust works, its neural basis, its relationship with immune function, its connection with mating, and some of its antecedents and consequents. Despite these advances in our understanding, an under-explored area is how disgust may be used to serve a communicative function, including how individuals might strategically downplay or exaggerate the disgust display in front of different audiences. Here, we generated two hypotheses about potential communicative functions of disgust, and tested these hypotheses in four countries (Turkey, Croatia, Germany, and Norway). We found no evidence in support of either hypothesis in any country. Discussion focuses on the likely falsity of the two central hypotheses, alternative interpretations of our findings, and directions for future research.
Brain and behavior, Sep 14, 2021
Objective: Metacognitive therapy (MCT) and cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) are effective treatme... more Objective: Metacognitive therapy (MCT) and cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) are effective treatments for generalized anxiety disorder. In this study, we followed-up patients who had previously participated in a randomized controlled trial of MCT compared against CBT. Method: We collected 9-year follow-up data on 39 out of 60 original patients (i.e., 65% response rate). Results: At 9 years, the recovery rates were 57% for MCT and 38% for CBT (completer analysis). Following MCT, 43% maintained their recovery status and a further 14% achieved recovery. Following CBT, the sustained recovery rate was 13%, while a further 25% achieved recovery. Patients in the MCT condition showed significantly more improvement with respect to symptoms of worry and anxiety. In the CBT group, 23.1% were re-diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) compared with 9.5% in the MCT group. Conclusions: This follow-up study showed a continuation of gains in both treatments at long-term follow-up, but with outcomes continuing to favor MCT and strengthening its comparative superiority.
Frontiers in Psychology, Apr 1, 2022
Background: The aim of the study was to explore symptoms of anxiety and depression, insomnia, and... more Background: The aim of the study was to explore symptoms of anxiety and depression, insomnia, and quality of life in a Norwegian community sample of older adults. Methods: A representative sample (N = 1069) was drawn from home-dwelling people of 60 years and above, living in a large municipality in Norway (Trondheim). Results: Based on established cutoff scores, 83.7% of the participants showed no symptoms of anxiety/depression, 12% had mild symptoms, 2.7% moderate symptoms, 1.5% showed severe symptoms of anxiety/depression. A total of 18.4% reported insomnia symptoms. Regarding health-related quality of life, few participants reported problems with self-care, but pain and discomfort were common (59%). Depression/anxiety, insomnia, and health-related quality of life showed moderate to strong associations. Discussion: The results suggest a close interplay between anxiety/depression, insomnia, and health-related quality of life in older adults.
Founders of Evolutionary Psychology
Springer eBooks, 2021
Evolutionary Clinical Psychology☆
Elsevier eBooks, 2017
Evolutionary Personality Psychology: Integrating the Many Functional Adaptations That Make Us Who We Are
Evolutionary studies in imaginative culture, Dec 1, 2019
Fears and Phobias
Springer eBooks, 2021
Evolusjonspsykologi og læringsteorier: en feilaktig motsetning
Evolutionary Psychology, 2005
Risky play in children’s emotion regulation, social functioning, and physical health: an evolutionary approach
International Journal of Play
Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, 2020
The frequency of sexual intercourse within couples is associated with a variety of factors, such ... more The frequency of sexual intercourse within couples is associated with a variety of factors, such as relationship length, sexual and relationship satisfaction, and perceived quality of the relationship. Love, as a commitment device, might reduce interest in extra-pair sex. One can therefore expect a negative association between measures of passion and sociosexual desire. Further, we wish to explore the effects of decoupling love and sex as measured by sociosexual attitudes on sexual frequency; as there might be a greater willingness to compromise on frequency of sex if sex is less related to expression of emotions and relational quality. We examined how men and women's sociosexuality, relationship length and various dimensions of relationship quality impact couples' intercourse frequency. Structural Equation Modelling analyses were performed on data from 92 romantically involved, heterosexual couples recruited at a Norwegian university. Participants' age ranged from 19 to 30 years. The current relationship length ranged from one month to nine years (M = 21 months). Intercourse frequency decreased with increased length of relationship. Both men and women's ratings of relationship passion were strongly associated with frequency of having sex, but negatively associated with desire for extra-pair sex. Intercourse was more frequent in couples where women reported less restricted attitudes, while men's level of sociosexuality had no effect on intercourse frequency in any of the models. These novel findings suggest that while men in general might desire sex more, in this sample from a highly egalitarian nation, men might be compromising more than women do.
Casual Sex
Springer eBooks, 2021
Sexuality Research and Social Policy, Aug 1, 2023
Introduction How we perceive social-sexual behavior, and to what extent we consider such behavior... more Introduction How we perceive social-sexual behavior, and to what extent we consider such behavior to be sexual harassment, is dependent on several situational factors. Prototypical #MeToo features (male actor and female target, higher status, repeated, private behavior, sexualized physical contact) have previously been shown to increase the degree to which social-sexual behavior is perceived as sexual harassment. The effect of those features needs to be investigated for types of harassment that involve same-gender sexual harassment and harassment of LGBTQ + people. To gain a wider perspective on the perception of social-sexual behavior as sexual harassment, this preregistered study aims to examine same-gender interactions and lesbian and gay actors and targets, in addition to replicating earlier findings about #MeToo features in opposite-sex constellations. Methods We applied five hypothetical scenarios to a Norwegian online sample of 888 participants between 18 and 60 (58.3% cis women, 40.8% cis men, 0.9% transgender/genderfluid/non-binary). The sampling process took place during the spring term 2020 and aimed at recruiting LGBTQ + people (63.3% of the sample self-identifying as heterosexual, 20% gay/lesbian, 10.7% bisexual, 3.2% pansexual, and 1.9% "other"). Results #MeToo features in each scenario clearly increased the degree to which social-sexual behavior was perceived as sexual harassment across gender identity and sexual orientation. The effect of private vs. public behavior was contingent on the type of behavior. Men rated behavior less as sexual harassment than women and people of other gender identities. Conclusions The current study shows that there was considerable consensus as to what sexual harassment entails in the five scenarios across gender identity and sexual orientation. Policy Implications Organizations should include prototypical #MeToo features in interventions, to illustrate how a situation might be more or less undesired and therefore experienced as harassment under different circumstances.
Belief in Specific Conspiracy Theories Measure
PsycTESTS Dataset, 2021
Depression
Springer eBooks, 2021
Sexual Regret
Springer eBooks, 2018
Examining the Sexual Double Standards and Hypocrisy in Partner Suitability Appraisals Within a Norwegian Sample
Evolutionary Psychology, 2023
Sexual double standards are social norms that impose greater social opprobrium on women versus me... more Sexual double standards are social norms that impose greater social opprobrium on women versus men or that permit one sex greater sexual freedom than the other. This study examined sexual double standards when choosing a mate based on their sexual history. Using a novel approach, participants (N = 923, 64% women) were randomly assigned to make evaluations in long-term or short-term mating contexts and asked how a prospective partner's sexual history would influence their own likelihood of having sex (short-term) or entering a relationship (long-term) with them. They were then asked how the same factors would influence the appraisal they would make of male and female friends in a similar position. We found no evidence of traditional sexual double standards for promiscuous or sexually undesirable behavior. There was some evidence for small sexual double standard for self-stimulation, but this was in the opposite direction to that predicted. There was greater evidence for sexual hypocrisy as sexual history tended to have a greater negative impact on suitor assessments for the self rather than for same-sex friends. Sexual hypocrisy effects were more prominent in women, though the direction of the effects was the same for both sexes. Overall, men were more positive about women's self-stimulation than women were, particularly in short-term contexts. Socially undesirable sexual behavior (unfaithfulness, mate poaching, and jealous/controlling) had a large negative impact on appraisals of a potential suitor across all contexts and for both sexes. Effects of religiosity, disgust, sociosexuality, and question order effects are considered.
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Papers by Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair