Sex differences in emotional and behavioral responses to HIV+ individuals' expression of distress

Two studies examined the influence of HIV+ individual's expression of distress on perceivers' emotional and behavioral reactions. In Study 1 ( N = 224), HIV+ individual's expression of distress was experimentally manipulated by means of vignettes. Men and women reacted differently when persons with HIV conveyed distress: women reported stronger feelings of pity, whereas men reported stronger feelings of anger. Study 2 ( N = 136) replicated this study in a realistic experimental setting with additional behavioral measures. Similarly, women reported stronger pro-social behavior than men when confronted with a person with HIV who conveyed distress. Results of the present study shed additional light to the self-presentational dilemma of ill persons. Conveying moderate levels of distress may evoke pro-social responses in women, but not in men