The implicit meaning of (my) change
1Department of Behavioral Science, University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|August 19, 2016
Summary
People perceive personal change primarily as improvement, neglecting decline. This self-enhancement bias in change perception boosts mood and life satisfaction by focusing only on positive personal growth.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- The objective concept of change encompasses both growth and decline.
- However, individuals' subjective understanding of personal change may differ significantly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how individuals perceive personal change over time.
- To explore the downstream effects of this change perception on well-being.
- To uncover the psychological mechanisms underlying the perception of change.
Main Methods:
- Five studies utilized diverse methodologies, including self-report measures, speeded response tasks, and varied populations and time frames.
- Participants assessed their personal change or responded to the word 'change' under different conditions.
Main Results:
- Individuals predominantly interpret personal change as improvement, overlooking negative trajectories.
- Reflecting on personal change, framed as improvement, enhanced mood, meaning, and satisfaction.
- Self-enhancement motives appear to drive this bias, as change related to oneself is viewed more positively than change related to others.
Conclusions:
- Subjective change perception is biased towards positivity, driven by self-enhancement.
- This biased perception of personal growth positively impacts current well-being.
- Understanding these biases is crucial for interpreting subjective experiences of change.
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