When focusing on negative and positive attributes of the self elicits more inductive self-judgment

Self-judgments can range from inductive (i.e., based on relevant characteristics, behaviors, and past experiences) to deductive (i.e., inferred from general beliefs about the self) depending on the situation. Previous work demonstrated that focusing on positive attributes-particularly under threat-can elicit less inductive self-judgment. In this article, the authors tested the hypothesis that priming negative attributes of the self would lead to more inductive self-judgment. The authors also tested whether focusing on positive attributes would lead to more inductive self-judgment in a context where one is constrained to think inductively. In three studies with disparate manipulations, the authors looked at how well participants' self-reported risk factors for health problems were related to their risk perceptions for these health problems. Both hypotheses were supported. The authors discuss implications of these findings for theoretical approaches to self-judgment and practical concerns about the reliability and validity of self-judgments.