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Self-Discrepancy Theory02:45

Self-Discrepancy Theory

One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
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Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
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Avoidance-avoidance conflict refers to a psychological situation where a person must choose between two or more unpleasant alternatives. These conflicts are particularly stressful because neither option is desirable. This dilemma is often expressed in sayings like "caught between a rock and a hard place" or "between the devil and the deep blue sea." For instance, individuals who fear dental procedures may find themselves torn between enduring a painful toothache or facing the anxiety of...
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Cognitive psychologist Richard Lazarus proposed the cognitive-mediational theory of emotions, which emphasizes how individuals' assessments of stressors significantly affect their experience of stress. According to Lazarus, the stress response is determined by a two-step appraisal process: primary appraisal and secondary appraisal. These cognitive appraisals help individuals evaluate the potential impact of a stressor and determine the adequacy of their coping resources.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal
06:45

Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal

Published on: April 18, 2017

Construal level and procrastination.

Sean M McCrea1, Nira Liberman, Yaacov Trope

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany. sean.mccrea@uni-konstanz.de

Psychological Science
|January 6, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Construal-level theory explains how abstract thinking increases procrastination. Making tasks feel concrete reduces delays, regardless of task appeal or difficulty.

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The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies
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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal
06:45

Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal

Published on: April 18, 2017

The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies
08:24

The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies

Published on: August 25, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Construal-level theory posits a link between temporal distance and abstract representation.
  • This theory suggests a bidirectional relationship where representation level influences temporal perception.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the bidirectional nature of construal-level theory.
  • To determine if inducing abstract or concrete construals affects task procrastination.

Main Methods:

  • Participants received an email questionnaire with a 3-week deadline.
  • Questionnaires were designed to elicit either abstract or concrete mental representations.
  • Various methods were used to manipulate construal levels.

Main Results:

  • A more concrete construal of the task led to reduced procrastination.
  • This effect was observed across different manipulations of construal level.
  • The influence of construal level on procrastination was independent of task attractiveness, importance, or perceived difficulty.

Conclusions:

  • The findings support the bidirectional predictions of construal-level theory.
  • Concrete thinking can decrease procrastination by influencing the perceived temporal execution of tasks.
  • Task characteristics do not mediate the relationship between construal level and procrastination.