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Related Concept Videos

Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification03:00

Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification

Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
Fundamental Attribution Error01:14

Fundamental Attribution Error

According to some social psychologists, people tend to overemphasize internal factors as explanations—or attributions—for the behavior of other people. They tend to assume that the behavior of another person is a trait of that person, and to underestimate the power of the situation on the behavior of others. They tend to fail to recognize when the behavior of another is due to situational variables, and thus to the person’s state. This erroneous assumption is called the fundamental attribution...
Attribution Theory00:56

Attribution Theory

Behavior is a product of both the situation (e.g., cultural influences, social roles, and the presence of bystanders) and of the person (e.g., personality characteristics). Subfields of psychology tend to focus on one influence or behavior over others. Situationism is the view that our behavior and actions are determined by our immediate environment and surroundings. In contrast, dispositionism holds that our behavior is determined by internal factors (Heider, 1958). An internal factor is an...
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According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
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Published on: June 12, 2020

Narrating personality change.

Jennifer Lodi-Smith1, Aaron C Geise, Brent W Roberts

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA. jls1179@utdallas.edu

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|March 4, 2009
PubMed
Summary

College students’ personality traits and emotional health influence their personal narratives of change. Exploring personal growth stories positively impacts emotional well-being and personality development during college.

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Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
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Published on: September 19, 2019

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Last Updated: Jun 25, 2026

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
05:48

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

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Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
07:56

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure

Published on: September 19, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Narrative Psychology

Background:

  • Understanding the interplay between personality development and self-perception is crucial.
  • Longitudinal studies are essential for tracking changes in personality and emotional health over time.
  • Narratives offer insights into how individuals make sense of their personal transformations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the longitudinal relationships between personality traits and students' narratives of personality change.
  • To examine how initial personality traits predict change narratives.
  • To explore the connection between change narratives, perceived and actual personality shifts, and emotional health during college.

Main Methods:

  • Surveyed 170 college students regarding personality traits and emotional health.
  • Analyzed students' narratives of personality change in their senior year.
  • Assessed personality traits at the beginning of college and changes throughout.

Main Results:

  • Narratives of change were categorized into affective (positive emotions) and exploratory (meaning-making) processing.
  • Freshmen high in conscientiousness, openness, and extraversion told more exploratory stories.
  • Emotionally healthy freshmen reported more positive affect in their change narratives.
  • Both narrative types predicted changes in emotional stability and conscientiousness, independent of perceived changes.
  • Both narrative types correlated with increased emotional health, irrespective of personality trait changes.

Conclusions:

  • Personal narratives of change reflect and influence personality development and emotional health.
  • The way students narrate their growth impacts their psychological well-being and self-concept.
  • Findings contribute to understanding identity formation and personality dynamics in emerging adulthood.