Self-affirmation: a regulatory fit analysis

摘要: Self-affirmation, in which individuals reflect on important personal values or attributes and thereby reinforce their perceptions of self-worth self-integrity, has been shown to reduce defensive behavior associated with a wide variety threats the self. However, mechanisms underlying these effects are not well understood. The present studies derived hypotheses from Regulatory Fit Theory investigate potentially but unstudied mechanism for explaining self-affirmation effects. Study One, employed two-condition between-participants design (self-affirmed non-affirmed) as independent variable, was designed test hypothesis that standard induction produces promotion focus. Results partially confirmed this hypothesis. Two, 3 (Self-Affirmation: promotion-affirmation vs. prevention-affirmation affirmation) X 2 (Behavioral Strategy: eager vigilant) analysis covariance design, effectiveness motivating health-related can be influenced by “fit” between regulatory focus induced manipulation strategic means used engage behavior. provided partial support Theoretical applied implications findings discussed.