Changing, priming, and acting on values: effects via motivational relations in a circular model

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Behavioral Economics
• Motivational Psychology

Background:

• Circular models propose relationships between values, where some are compatible, some opposing, and others orthogonal.
• Understanding these interconnections is key to predicting value-consistent behaviors and cognitive effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To empirically test the predictions of circular value models.
• To examine how value confrontation and priming influence the entire value system and associated behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Five experiments utilized value confrontation and priming techniques.
• Participants' values and behaviors were measured following interventions targeting specific value domains.

Main Results:

• Priming security values decreased the 'better-than-average' effect and increased cleanliness behaviors.
• Priming self-direction values decreased cleanliness and increased curiosity behaviors.
• Priming achievement values increased task success but decreased helpfulness, while benevolence values had opposite effects.

Conclusions:

• The findings support circular models of values, demonstrating predictable shifts in value importance and behavior.
• Value interconnections significantly influence cognitive biases and goal-directed actions.