Alexander, Kira Marie
(2014)
Self-affirmation: a regulatory fit analysis.
Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Self-affirmation, in which individuals reflect on important personal values or attributes and thereby reinforce their perceptions of self-worth and self-integrity, has been shown to reduce defensive behavior associated with a wide variety of threats to the self. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects are not well understood. The present studies derived hypotheses from Regulatory Fit Theory to investigate a potentially important but unstudied mechanism for explaining self-affirmation effects. Study One, which employed a two-condition between-participants design with self-affirmation (self-affirmed or non-affirmed) as the independent variable, was designed to test the hypothesis that a standard self-affirmation induction produces promotion focus. Results partially confirmed this hypothesis. Study Two, which employed a 3 (Self-Affirmation: promotion-affirmation vs. prevention-affirmation vs. standard affirmation) X 2 (Behavioral Strategy: eager vs. vigilant) between-participants analysis of covariance design, was designed to test the hypothesis that the effectiveness of self-affirmation for motivating health-related behavior can be influenced by the “fit” between the regulatory focus induced by the self-affirmation manipulation and the strategic means used to engage in the behavior. Results provided partial support for this hypothesis and confirmed that a standard self-affirmation induction produces promotion focus. Theoretical and applied implications of the findings are discussed.
Share
| Citation/Export: |
|
| Social Networking: |
|
Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
|
| Date: |
26 May 2014 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
21 March 2014 |
| Approval Date: |
26 May 2014 |
| Submission Date: |
31 March 2014 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
131 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > Psychology |
| Degree: |
PhD - Doctor of Philosophy |
| Thesis Type: |
Doctoral Dissertation |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Self-affirmation
Regulatory focus
Regulatory fit
Motivation
Health behavior |
| Date Deposited: |
26 May 2014 23:04 |
| Last Modified: |
15 Nov 2016 14:18 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/20908 |
Metrics
Monthly Views for the past 3 years
Plum Analytics
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
![[feed]](/images/feed-icon-32x32.png){kind=icon}