scholarly journals Identity-Specific Motivation: How Distinct Identities Direct Self-Regulation across Distinct Situations

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander S. Browman ◽  
Mesmin Destin ◽  
Daniel C. Molden
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Focus ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Regulatory Focus Theory ◽  
History Of ◽  
Group Member ◽  
Focus Theory

Research on self-regulation has traditionally emphasized that people’s thoughts and actions are guided by either (a) domain-general motivations that emerge from a cumulative history of life experiences, or (b) situation-specific motivations that emerge in immediate response to the incentives present in a particular context. However, more recent studies have illustrated the importance of understanding the interplay between such domain-general and situation-specific motivations across the types of contexts people regularly encounter. The present research, therefore, expands existing perspectives on self-regulation by investigating how people’s identities—the internalized roles, relationships, and social group member- ships that define who they are—systemically guide when and how different domain-general motivations are activated within specific types of situations. Using the motivational framework described by regulatory focus theory (Higgins, 1997), Studies 1 and 2 demonstrate that people indeed have distinct, identity-specific motivations that uniquely influence their current self-regulation when such identities are active. Studies 3–5 then begin to explore how identity-specific motivations are situated within people’s larger self-concept. Studies 3a and 3b demonstrate that the less compatible people’s specific identities, the more distinct are the motivations connected to those identities. Studies 4–5 then provide some initial, suggestive evidence that identity-specific motivations are not a separate, superordinate feature of people’s identities that then alter how they pursue any subordinate, identity-relevant traits, but instead that such motivations emerge from the cumulative motivational significance of the subordinate traits to which the identities themselves become attached. Implications for understanding the role of the self- concept in self-regulation are discussed.

The Self-Regulatory Focus as a Determinant of Perceived Richness of a Communication Medium

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicenc Fernandez ◽  
Xavier Armengol ◽  
Pep Simo
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Focus ◽  
Theoretical Foundation ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
The Self ◽  
Communication Media ◽  
Regulatory Focus Theory ◽  
Communication Medium ◽  
Expansion Theory ◽  
Channel Expansion ◽  
Focus Theory

At present, a large number of theories exist which explain the process for choosing communication media in organizations. Channel expansion theory combines a large part of the theoretical foundation for these theories, suggesting that the perceived richness of a communication medium varies according to experience based on the knowledge of the organization’s members. Equally, Regulatory Focus Theory also suggests that individuals behave in a different way when their self regulation states are different. This investigation intends to present a set of proposals based on the existing literature about how strategy type /focus (promotion and prevention) affects the perception of the richness of a communication medium, increasing the explanatory capacity of channel expansion theory.

Self-Discrepancy and Regulatory Focus

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Tory Higgins ◽  
Emily Nakkawita
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Focus ◽  
Emotional Experience ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Regulatory Focus Theory ◽  
Discrepancy Theory ◽  
Regulatory Systems ◽  
Promotion System ◽  
Fundamental Needs ◽  
Self Discrepancy ◽  
Focus Theory

Self-discrepancy theory and regulatory focus theory are two related motivational theories. Self-discrepancy theory describes the associations between self and affect, positing that the relations among different sets of self-concepts influence a person’s emotional experience. A discrepancy between a person’s ideal self-guide (e.g., hopes and aspirations) and his or her actual self-concept produces dejection-related emotions (e.g., sadness), whereas a discrepancy between a person’s ought self-guide (e.g., duties and obligations) and his or her actual self-concept produces agitation-related emotions (e.g., anxiety). The intensity of these emotional experiences depends upon the magnitude and accessibility of the associated discrepancy. Regulatory focus theory builds on self-discrepancy theory, positing that distinct self-regulatory systems are reflected in the two types of self-guides proposed in self-discrepancy theory. The promotion system is motivated by ideal end-states, by pursuing hopes and aspirations; as a result, it is primarily concerned with the presence or absence of positive outcomes—with gains and non-gains. Given this focus on gains and non-gains, the promotion system is motivated by fundamental needs for nurturance and growth. In contrast, the prevention system is motivated by ought end-states, by fulfilling duties and obligations; as a result, it is primarily concerned with the presence or absence of negative outcomes—with losses and non-losses. Given this focus on losses and non-losses, the prevention system is motivated by fundamental needs for safety and security. The promotion and prevention systems predict a range of important variables relating to cognition, performance, and decision-making.

scholarly journals The impact of challenge-hindrance stressors on creativity: the mediating role of regulatory focus and the moderating role of proactive personality

2021 ◽  
Vol 245 ◽  
pp. 03031
Author(s):  
Yixin Yang ◽  
Mingjian Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Focus ◽  
Proactive Personality ◽  
Regulatory Focus Theory ◽  
Prevention Focus ◽  
Promotion Focus ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Moderating Role ◽  
Focus Theory

Based on the challenge-hindrance stressors framework and regulatory focus theory, this study explored the mediating role of promotion focus between challenge stressors and employee creativity, and the mediating role of prevention focus between hindrance stressors and creativity. In addition, we further explored the moderating role of proactive personality in this model. In the end, we discuss implications and limitations of our argument for theory and practices.

When Do Chronic Differences in Self-Regulation Count?: Regulatory Focus Effects in Easy and Difficult Soccer Tasks

2013 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 216-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Vogel ◽  
Oliver Genschow
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Focus ◽  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Regulatory Fit ◽  
Sports Performance ◽  
Regulatory Focus Theory ◽  
Instructional Focus ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
And Task

Research on regulatory focus theory (Higgins, 1997) suggests that performance increases if instructions fit with sportspersons’ dispositions. Sportspersons who chronically focus on wins (i.e., promotion-oriented individuals) perform best if instructions frame the objective as a promotion goal (e.g., “Try to hit!”). By contrast, sportspersons who chronically focus on losses (i.e., prevention-oriented individuals) perform best if instructions frame the objective as a prevention goal (e.g., “Try not to miss!”). Recent theorizing also suggests that regulatory focus interacts with task difficulty. In an experiment, we assessed soccer performance as a function of chronic focus, instructional focus, and task difficulty. Results support that task difficulty moderates the effects of fit on performance; fitting instructions to match the sportsperson’s chronic regulatory focus improved performance in the easy rather than the difficult task. Findings are discussed regarding the role of regulatory fit in altering subjective pressure during sports performance.

scholarly journals A close look at the role of regulatory fit in consumers’ responses to unethical firms

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 46-49
Author(s):  
Kwansik Mun ◽  
Ilgi Shin
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Regulatory Focus ◽  
Emission Reduction ◽  
Purchase Intention ◽  
Fuel Efficiency ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emission ◽  
Regulatory Fit ◽  
Regulatory Focus Theory ◽  
Focus Theory

Our knowledge is not enough to clearly explain how consumers respond to unethical firms, thereby forming attitudes toward unethical firms’ brand and buying their products. In this sense, we conduct a one-way experimental design to test regulatory focus theory when it comes to attitudes toward unethical firms’ brand and the purchase intention. Our findings reveal that promotion-oriented participants were more negative toward Mitsubishi, which violates achievement (e.g. fuel efficiency), than prevention-oriented participants. More importantly, promotion-oriented people were less likely to buy Mitsubishi automobiles than prevention-oriented people. In contrast, prevention-oriented consumers are negative toward Volkswagen which violates protection (e.g. carbon dioxide emission reduction).

Differential Gender and Ethnic Differences in Math Performance

2012 ◽  
Vol 220 (3) ◽  
pp. 164-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Keller
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Differences ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Regulatory Focus ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
American College Test ◽  
Math Performance ◽  
Differential Sensitivity ◽  
Regulatory Focus Theory ◽  
Math Test ◽  
Focus Theory

The present research investigates the role of self-regulatory mechanisms in the context of gender and ethnic differences (between African Americans and Caucasians) in math test performance. Building on two basic notions proposed in regulatory focus theory, it is argued that gender and ethnic differences in math performance are particularly pronounced under conditions where prevention-focused self-regulation is activated (by emphasizing point deductions for mistakes). This assumption refers to a specific mechanism documented in previous research on regulatory focus theory: The differential-sensitivity mechanism according to which a prevention focus renders individuals particularly sensitive with regard to negative information (such as negative performance expectancies). Results of an archival data analysis document a substantial differential gender and ethnic gap in math performance as a function of test instruction (involving point deductions for mistakes or not) supporting the proposed differential gender and ethnic-gap hypothesis. The gap between women and men as well as the gap between African-American and Caucasian test takers is substantially larger in the Scholastic Aptitude Test for math (which involves point deductions for mistakes) than in the corresponding American College Test.

Vigilant Self–regulation and Costly Punishment in Public Goods Situations

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 346-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Pfattheicher ◽  
Johannes Keller
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Regulatory Focus ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Social Dilemma ◽  
Behavioral Inhibition System ◽  
Regulatory Focus Theory ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Costly Punishment ◽  
Interaction Partners ◽  
Focus Theory

Applying regulatory focus theory to the context of social dilemma situations, the present research demonstrates that individual differences in vigilant, prevention–focused self–regulation predict the tendency to invest private resources to punish uncooperative interaction partners (costly punishment), a behaviour that typically has strong positive effects on the collective level of cooperation. Analyses further support the distinctiveness of the vigilance system proposed in regulatory focus theory (prevention focus) in comparison with general defensive inhibitory tendencies (measured with Carver and White's Behavioral Inhibition System scale). Results document that individual differences in prevention–focused self–regulation but not differences in general defensive inhibitory tendencies are positively related to costly punishment. In sum, the findings indicate that vigilant, prevention–focused self–regulation plays a crucial role in the context of sanctions that enforce cooperation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document