Account Episodes

Acknowledgements; Part I. The Task: 1. Demands for accountability; 2. The structure of account episodes; 3. Functions of account episodes; 4. Basic questions and some specifications; 5. Fundamental obstacle, multiple approximations; Part II. Theoretical Guidance: 1. Basic control-theoretical assumptions; 2. A network of escalation; 3. Supplementary speculations; Part III. Study Designs and Procedures: 1. Common design features; 2. Vignettes of failure events; 3. Reproach phase studies; 4. Account phase studies; 5. Evaluation phase studies; 6. Studies on the meaning of responsibility; Part IV. Category Systems and Codings: 1. Reasons, problems and strategies of category constructions; 2. A taxonomy for reactions of actors during account phases; 3. A taxonomy for reactions of opponents during phases of reproach and evaluation; Part V. Reproach Phase Results: 1. Effects of severity of failure of reproach; 2. Effects of gender on severity of reproach; 3. The meaning of responsibility for men and women - and excursus; 4. Control needs and severity of reproach; Part VI. Account Phase Results: 1. Effects of reproach on defensiveness of accounts; 2. Effects of gender on defensiveness of accounts; 3. Sense of control, self-esteem and defensiveness of accounts; 4. Severity of failure and defensiveness of accounts; Part VII. Evaluation Phase Results: 1. Defensiveness of accounts and negativity of evaluation; 2. Effects of gender on negativity of evaluation; 2. Effects of gender on negativity and evaluation; 3. Sense of control, self-esteem and negativity of evaluation; 4. Severity of reproach and negativity of evaluation; Part VIII. Inferences: 1. Synopsis; 2. Transphase perspectives; 3. Tasks for the future; Appendices; notes; References; Name index; Subject index.