Sluijs, Maaike van der (2022) Think before you grunt: the social repercussions of grunting in the gym. Bachelor thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
Grunting refers to making a low, inarticulate sound to express one’s effort and is common place in sports such as tennis, as well as in the gym. Grunting has been found to be useful as a means to enhance sport performance. However, recent research has indicated that grunting in gyms is a voluntary action, emerging from social interactions. Thus, there is more to grunting than its practical use; it is a social phenomenon. Current research is the first experimental study to explore the effect of grunting on social perceptions. We tested the effect of grunting on perceived masculinity and perceptions of various physical characteristics. Based on the fact that grunting in the gym has been associated with stereotypically masculine traits, we propose that grunting has a positive effect on masculinity. Additionally, we propose that grunting has a positive effect on perceived exertion, perceived fitness and attractiveness. To assess whether the supposed positive effect of grunting on masculinity perceptions extends to homosexual men as well (considering they are generally perceived as less masculine than heterosexual men), we included sexual orientation as an additional independent variable. We conducted a 2x2 between-subjects study (N = 335), manipulating sexual orientation (heterosexual vs homosexual) and grunting (grunting vs no grunting). Results indicate a negative effect of grunting on perceived masculinity, perceived fitness and attractiveness and a positive effect on exertion – implying that grunting does in fact influence social perceptions. Gender of the perceiver seems to be a moderator in the effect of grunting on perceptions.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
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| Supervisor name: | Koc, Y. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | Applied Social Psychology (ASP) [Bachelor Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 18 May 2022 08:35 |
| Last Modified: | 18 May 2022 08:35 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/462 |
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