Discrepancies Between Explicit and Implicit Self-Concepts: Consequences for Information Processing

Individuals with discrepancies among their explicit beliefs often engage in greater elaboration of discrepancy-related information in a presumed attempt to reduce the discrepancy. The authors predicted that individuals with discrepancies between explicit and implicit self-conceptions might similarly...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of personality and social psychology 2006-07, Vol.91 (1), p.154-170
Main Authors: Briñol, Pablo, Petty, Richard E, Wheeler, S. Christian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attitude Change
Attitudes
Awareness
Belief & doubt
Beliefs
Biological and medical sciences
Cognitive Processes
Consequence
Culture
Feedback
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human
Humans
Individuals
Information
Internal-External Control
Knowledge Level
Motivation
Perception
Personal Construct Theory
Personality Inventory
Personality. Affectivity
Persuasion
Persuasive Communication
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Self Concept
Self representation
Self-esteem
Shyness
Social psychology
Students - psychology
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Summary:Individuals with discrepancies among their explicit beliefs often engage in greater elaboration of discrepancy-related information in a presumed attempt to reduce the discrepancy. The authors predicted that individuals with discrepancies between explicit and implicit self-conceptions might similarly be motivated to engage in processing of discrepancy-related information, even though they might not be aware of the discrepancy. Four studies were conducted in which various self-dimensions were assessed with explicit and implicit measures. Across several different self-dimensions (e.g., need to evaluate, self-esteem), the authors found that as the discrepancy between the explicit and implicit measure increased (regardless of direction), people engaged in more thinking about information framed as related to the self-dimension on which the discrepancy existed. This research suggests that individuals might be motivated to examine relevant information as a strategy to minimize the implicit doubt that accompanies an inconsistency between explicit and implicit self-conceptions.
ISSN:0022-3514
1939-1315
DOI:10.1037/0022-3514.91.1.154