Exploring Asymmetries in Self-Concept Change After Discrepant Feedback

Brotzelle, Franziska und Gollwitzer, Mario (2024): Exploring Asymmetries in Self-Concept Change After Discrepant Feedback. In: Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

Abstract

Receiving self-relevant feedback that is discrepant from one’s self-concept can lead to self-concept change. However, it is currently unclear whether positive or negative feedback has a larger effect on self-concept change. Across four studies (total N = 1,438), we demonstrate that intentions for self-concept change (Study 1) as well as actual self-concept change (Studies 2, 3, and 4) are larger (a) for larger discrepancies between self-concept and feedback and (b) for negative compared to positive discrepancies. Exploring these effects further in Study 4, we find no evidence that the opportunity for improvement influences whether self-concept change is positively or negatively biased. In sum, the present research provides consistent evidence for a negativity bias in self-concept change, investigates a theoretical explanation, and discusses alternative explanatory approaches.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Fakultät: Psychologie und Pädagogik > Department Psychologie > Sozialpsychologie
• Themengebiete: 100 Philosophie und Psychologie > 150 Psychologie
• ISSN: 0146-1672
• Sprache: Englisch