Automatic activation of self-discrepancies and emotional syndromes: when cognitive structures influence affect

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cognitive Science
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Self-discrepancy theory posits that differences between one's actual self and self-guides (ideal or ought) lead to negative affect.
• Previous research suggests a link between specific self-discrepancies and distinct emotional states.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether automatic activation of actual self: self-guide mismatches, as cognitive structures, induces distinct emotional states.
• To explore the differential emotional impact of ideal self-guide discrepancies versus ought self-guide discrepancies.

Main Methods:

• Two studies were conducted using participants with significant discrepancies between their actual self and ideal or ought self-guides.
• Participants responded verbally to an audiotape while thinking about others, with different priming conditions (self-relevant, yoked) employed.
• Study 1 examined self-relevant and yoked priming, while Study 2 used self-relevant/nondiscrepant, self-discrepant, or yoked priming.

Main Results:

• Activating ideal self-guide mismatches induced dejection (sadness, decreased arousal).
• Activating ought self-guide mismatches induced agitation (nervousness, increased arousal).
• Study 2 replicated Study 1 findings in the self-discrepant priming condition.

Conclusions:

• Self-discrepancies function as cognitive structures.
• Automatic activation of different self-discrepancies through contextual priming leads to distinct forms of emotional discomfort.