The Motivated Self: Self-Affirmation and the Better-Than-Average Effect

2012 ◽  
pp. 014616721245707
Author(s):  
Corey L. Guenther ◽  
Elizabeth A. Timberlake
Keyword(s):  
Future Research ◽  
Average Effect ◽  
Self Knowledge ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Motivational Account ◽  
Better Than

Research has shown that individuals routinely espouse “better-than-average” beliefs across a host of traits, skills, and abilities. Although some theorists take this tendency as evidence of self-enhancement motives guiding the organization and understanding of self-knowledge, others argue that better-than-average perceptions can be fully explained by nonmotivational processes. The present studies inform this controversy by exploring whether self-affirmation attenuates the magnitude of this comparative bias. Consistent with a motivational account, Studies 1 and 2 demonstrate that the better-than-average effect is reliably reduced following the affirmation of an important self-aspect. Moreover, Study 2 shows this attenuation to be primarily the product of self-ratings becoming more modest following an affirmation. Discussion focuses on potential avenues for future research as well as on the current findings’ implications for understanding the role of self-enhancement in judgment and behavior.

The Role of Death in Life: Existential Aspects of Human Motivation

2012 ◽  
pp. 42-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pelin Kesebir ◽  
Tom Pyszczynski
Keyword(s):  
Self Regulation ◽  
Theory Development ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Existential Anxiety ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
Human Motivation ◽  
And Behavior

The capacity for self-reflection, which plays an important role in human self-regulation, also leads people to become aware of the limitations of their existence. Awareness of the conflict between one's desires (e.g., to live) and the limitations of existence (e.g., the inevitability of death) creates the potential for existential anxiety. In this chapter, we review how this anxiety affects human motivation and behavior in a variety of life domains. Terror management theory and research suggest that transcending death and protecting oneself against existential anxiety are potent needs. This protection is provided by an anxiety-buffering system, which imbues people with a sense of meaning and value that function to shield them against these concerns. We review evidence of how the buffering system protects against existential anxiety in four dimensions of existence: the physical, personal, social, and spiritual domains. Because self-awareness is a prerequisite for existential anxiety, escaping self-awareness can also be an effective way to obviate the problem of existence. After elaborating on how existential anxiety can motivate escape from self-awareness, we conclude the chapter with a discussion of remaining issues and directions for future research and theory development.

scholarly journals Psychedelics and potential benefits in “healthy normals”: A review of the literature

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 280-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam Gandy
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Life Meaning ◽  
Potential Development ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
High Doses ◽  
And Behavior

We are in the midst of a psychedelic research renaissance. With research examining the efficacy of psychedelics as a treatment for a range of mental health indications still in its early stages, there is an increasing body of research to show that careful use of psychedelics can yield a variety of benefits in “healthy normals” and so lead to “the betterment of well people.” Psychedelics have been found to modulate neuroplasticity, and usage in a supportive setting can result in enduring increases in traits such as well-being, life satisfaction, life meaning, mindfulness, and a variety of measures associated with prosocial behaviors and healthy psychological functioning. The effect of psychedelic experience on measures of personality trait openness and is potential implications is examined, and the potential role of awe as a mediator of the benefits of the psychedelic experience is discussed. Special attention is given to the capacity of psychedelics to increase measures of nature relatedness in an enduring sense, which is being correlated with a broad range of measures of psychological well-being as well as a key predictor of pro-environmental awareness and behavior. The effects of particular classical psychedelic compounds on healthy people are discussed, with special attention given to the mystical-type experiences occasioned by high doses of psychedelics, which appear to be an important mediator of long-term benefits and psychotherapeutic gains. Research looking at the potential benefits of psychedelic microdosing is discussed. Potential future research avenues are explored, focusing on the potential development of psychedelics as agents of ecotherapy.

The systematic study of how subtle forms of bias related to prosocial behavior operate in racial and gender relations

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-121
Author(s):  
Silvia Abad-Merino ◽  
John F. Dovidio ◽  
Carmen Tabernero ◽  
Ignacio González
Keyword(s):  
Gender Relations ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cultural Research ◽  
The Status ◽  
And Gender ◽  
And Behavior

Psychological research and theory have traditionally focused on bias and conflict between separate groups. Our central thesis is that the processes that shape hierarchical group relations within a society are distinctive and typically operate in ways that are frequently subtle rather than blatant. The challenges of detecting new subtle forms of bias are receiving considerable attention in the field of social psychology, internationally. Although explicit hostility toward minority groups seems to have faded in modern societies, cross-cultural data show that the status, resources, and the power of women and ethnic/racial minorities remain unequal. The present literature review integrates the findings of cross-cultural research showing the role of paternalistic legitimizing ideas and behavior for establishing, maintaining, and reinforcing group hierarchy and the disadvantage of members of traditionally underrepresented groups. Specifically, we explain how intergroup helping relations can be used as a mechanism to maintain social advantage in racial and gender relations. These theoretical and experimental insights help illuminate the dynamics of relations between socially linked groups and the nature of contemporary bias. We also highlight how this perspective suggests novel and productive directions for future research.

Digesting the emerging role for the gut microbiome in central nervous system demyelination

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 1553-1559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Joscelyn ◽  
Lloyd H Kasper
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Host Immunity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Environmental Risk Factor ◽  
Central Nervous System Demyelination ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
First Time

The fields of microbiology, immunology, neurology and nutrition are rapidly converging, as advanced sequencing and genomics-based methodologies have enabled the mapping out of the microbial diversity of humans for the first time. Bugs, guts, brains and behavior were once believed to be separate domains of clinical practice and research; however, recent observations in our understanding of the microbiome indicate that the boundaries between domains are becoming permeable. This permeability is multidirectional: Biological systems are operating simultaneously in a vastly complex and interconnected web. Understanding the microbiome-gut-brain axis will entail fleshing out the mechanisms by which transduction across each domain occurs, allowing us ultimately to appreciate the role of commensal organisms in shaping and modulating host immunity. This article will highlight animal and human research to date, as well as highlight directions for future research. We speculate that the gut microbiome is potentially the premier environmental risk factor mediating inflammatory central nervous system demyelination, in particular multiple sclerosis.

Personality Traits and Consumer Behavior in the Mobile Context

2013 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Kaan Varnali
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Behavior ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Value Creation ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Mobile Services ◽  
The State ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mobile Context ◽  
And Behavior

Research focusing on consumer behavior in the mobile context is rapidly accumulating. However, the role of personality traits in explaining and predicting users’ perceptions regarding mobile services and behavior within the mobile context is conspicuously under-researched. If consumers are considered as dispositional entities, this lack of researcher interest on the role of personality traits on the value creation processes of mobile consumers should be scrutinized. Striving to provide guidance as to why and how to incorporate personality-based variables within prospective research models attempting to explain and predict consumer behavior in the mobile context, this research critically assesses the-state-of-the-art and presents a conceptual discussion regarding related future research avenues.

The Role of Peers and Siblings in Adolescent Sexual Decisions

2019 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. 433-441
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Friedman ◽  
Cheryl L. Somers ◽  
Lauren Mangus
Keyword(s):  
Sibling Relationships ◽  
Social Contagion ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
The Social ◽  
Peer Approval ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Attitudes And Behavior

The purpose of this study was to examine the contributions of peer and sibling relationships to adolescent sexual attitudes and behavior. Data were collected from a sample of 492 participants, ages 14 to 18 years, from a large suburban high school in the Midwest. The results revealed that more than half of the female participants were initiated into nonvirginity by experienced males, which provides some support for the social contagion theory. Perceived peer approval was the strongest predictor, with siblings also contributing. Some mediation analyses were significant as well. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

scholarly journals The Gut Microbiome in Anorexia Nervosa: Friend or Foe?

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Ghenciulescu ◽  
Rebecca J. Park ◽  
Philip W. J. Burnet
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Fecal Microbiota ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Multifactorial Diseases ◽  
High Relapse Rate ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
And Behavior

The human gut microbiome is emerging as a key modulator of homeostasis, with far-reaching implications for various multifactorial diseases, including anorexia nervosa (AN). Despite significant morbidity and mortality, the underlying mechanisms of this eating disorder are poorly understood, but the classical view defining AN as a purely psychiatric condition is increasingly being challenged. Accumulating evidence from comparative studies of AN and healthy fecal microbial composition reveals considerable low divergence and altered taxonomic abundance of the AN gut microbiome. When integrated with preclinical data, these findings point to a significant role of the gut microbiome in AN pathophysiology, via effects on host energy metabolism, intestinal permeability, immune function, appetite, and behavior. While complex causal relationships between genetic risk factors, dietary patterns and microbiome, and their relevance for AN onset and perpetuation have not been fully elucidated, preliminary clinical studies support the use of microbiome-based interventions such as fecal microbiota transplants and probiotics as adjuvants to standard AN therapies. Future research should aim to move from observational to mechanistic, as dissecting how specific microbial taxa interact with the host to impact the development of AN could help design novel therapeutic approaches that more effectively address the severe comorbidities and high relapse rate of this serious disorder.

The Better-Than-Average Effect in the Era of COVID-19: Cognitive Bias in the Age of Pandemic and its Relationship to Vaccination Hesitancy (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wojciech Kulesza ◽  
Dariusz Dolinski ◽  
Paweł Muniak ◽  
Daisy Winner ◽  
Kamil Izydorczak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cognitive Biases ◽  
Average Effect ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Scale Behavior ◽  
Vaccination Hesitancy ◽  
Better Than

BACKGROUND The ongoing coronavirus pandemic is an unprecedented global health crisis. Because large-scale behavior change has been critical to slowing the spread of the virus, understanding the mechanisms behind people’s decisions and behaviors to follow (or not) public health recommendations, is essential. OBJECTIVE In order to investigate one possible mechanism, we investigated the presence of the better-than-average effect. METHODS in 3066 individuals across Poland, Iran, and Kazakhstan. RESULTS Participants demonstrated clear the BTAE in all three countries. Furthermore, we found that the level of BTAE was a predictor of COVID-19 vaccination (declarative) claims. CONCLUSIONS These findings contribute to the growing literature on the role of cognitive biases on health behaviors, particularly during global health emergencies. We provide recommendations for public health communicators on how to address this bias to help ensure people adopt the behaviors that are critical to combatting the virus.

CONSCIOUSNESS AND SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS IN PSICHOANALYTICAL, PHENOMENOLOGICAL AND EXISTENTIAL DISCOURSE

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 130-137
Author(s):  
Chekal L. A. ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Theory ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Historical Aspects ◽  
Situational Contexts ◽  
Theoretical Significance ◽  
Self Knowledge ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Dimensionality Of Space

This article is focused on the analysis of the problem of deep contexts of irrational reflection in the studies of great thinkers of the twentieth century and in the further research. The author analyses specifics of conceptualization of self-knowledge and structuring of psychics as well as the features of methodology of cognition and self-consciousness in the context of definition of values and priorities for a development of the person. The study includes a review of socio-historical determinants of the human psychics and behavior which leads to a conclusion that the human psychics does not depend on any limitations, such as the three-dimensionality of space and time. It does not obey the laws of physics and has a certain superpersonal layer in its structure. Additionally, the author deep dives in the main concepts and problems of irrational reflection, demonstrates the examples of their application in situational contexts and summarizes theoretical interrelations and the most important conceptual discussions. The theoretical significance of the problem of cognition and self-consciousness is determined by the central role of man as a person in society and history. The analysis shows that the methodology of cognition and self-consciousness should be based on the principles of axiological disengagement, unity of logical and historical aspects, as well as on the coherence of social theory and practice.

Stuck in an Existential Quagmire: The Role of Perceived True Self-Knowledge in Client Stuckness

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 449-477
Author(s):  
Jane E. M. Carter ◽  
Grace N. Rivera ◽  
Robert W. Heffer ◽  
Rebecca J. Schlegel
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
True Self ◽  
Social Psychological Research ◽  
Self Knowledge ◽  
Theoretical Evidence

Introduction: Research suggests that perceived true self-knowledge is important for well-being. However, less discussion exists about how perceived true self-knowledge affects therapy outcomes. We suggest that perceived true self-knowledge may be important when attempting to address client stuckness (i.e., lack of progress in therapy; Beaudoin, 2008). We argue that when clients perceive a lack of true self-knowledge, they are unable to draw upon the true self-concept as a source of meaning. This may hinder therapeutic progress and contribute to client stuckness. Methods: We present theoretical evidence for the role of perceived true self-knowledge in experiences of stuckness. Then, we present case studies of two stuck clients and their therapeutic interventions as preliminary evidence for our model. Results: Direct strategies geared at enhancing true self-knowledge by helping the client construct coherent self-concepts worked for one client, but not for the other. Indirect strategies, grounded in social psychological research, are outlined as a method of enhancing perceptions of true self-knowledge for clients who do not benefit from direct strategies. Discussion: Potential moderators for the effectiveness of direct versus indirect strategies to enhance true self-knowledge are discussed. We then outline promising avenues for future research that include attempts to investigate the prevalence of self-alienation in clinical populations, and the effectiveness of strategies aimed at enhancing perceived true self-knowledge among clients experiencing stuckness.

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