Domain interdependence beliefs as a mechanism for dimensional comparison: an experimental analysis
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Jason E. Strickhouser (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Ethan Zell
Abstract: Dimensional comparison occurs when people compare their status in one domain (e.g., math) to their status in another domain (e.g., verbal). This comparison may result in a contrast effect in which self-concepts in the superior domain become inflated and self-concepts in the inferior domain becomes deflated. Alternatively, the comparison may result in an assimilation effect with the opposite outcome: self-concepts in the superior domain become deflated and self-concepts in the inferior domain becomes inflated. Presently, the factors that cause dimensional comparisons to result in either assimilation or contrast effects remain unclear. I argue that dimensional comparisons result in assimilation effects when people believe that standing in the two domains is positively interdependent (i.e., high status in one domain predicts high status in the other domain) and contrast effects when people believe that standing in the two domains is negatively interdependent (i.e., high status in one domain predicts low status in the other). In three experiments using 3 different manipulations, I tested whether these domain interdependence beliefs (DIBs) are a primary mechanism underlying dimensional comparison effects. I predicted that participants who are manipulated to have negative math/verbal DIBs would display dimensional comparison contrast, while those manipulated to have positive math/verbal DIBs would display dimensional comparison assimilation. These predictions were not supported. Although the math/verbal DIBs manipulation was successful in 2 of the 3 studies, no significant dimensional comparison contrast or assimilation effects were found. Implications for dimensional comparison theory and future directions are discussed.
Domain interdependence beliefs as a mechanism for dimensional comparison: an experimental analysis
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Created on 5/1/2018
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Dissertation
- Language: English
- Date: 2018
- Keywords
- Assimilation, Contrast, Dimensional comparison, Mechanism
- Subjects
- Comparison (Psychology)
- Self-perception
- Self-evaluation