The undesired self and emotional experience: A latent variable analysis.

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Paul Silvia, Professor (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: Many self-theories presume that discrepancies between the self and goals for the self influence emotional experience. The present research compared how discrepancies from ideal selves, ought selves, and undesired selves predict negative emotions. In particular, the research tested Ogilvie's (1987) claim that the undesired self has stronger effects on well-being relative to ideal and ought selves. A total of 231 participants completed several measures of self-discrepancies and negative emotions. Consistent with Ogilvie's hypothesis, discrepancies from the undesired self significantly predicted negative emotions, whereas discrepancies from the ideal and ought selves did not. No type of discrepancy, however, predicted negative affect when global self-esteem was entered as a predictor, indicating a lack of incremental validity for self-discrepancies.

Additional Information

Publication
Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 26, 1035-1047
Language: English
Date: 2007
Keywords
Self-theories, Ogilvie

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