Harris, Peter R, Griffin, Dale W, Napper, Lucy E, Bond, Rod, Schüz, Benjamin, Stride, Christopher and Brearley, Irina (2018) Individual differences in self-affirmation: distinguishing self-affirmation from positive self-regard. Self and Identity. ISSN 1529-8868

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Abstract

Research into self-affirmation has almost exclusively employed experimental manipulations. In this paper we address individual differences in the tendency to respond to threats with self-affirming cognitions and distinguish this from two overlapping constructs: habitual positive self-thought and trait self-esteem. Items we designed to measure self-affirmation were represented by three first-order factors and loaded on a higher-order factor, creating the Spontaneous Self-Affirmation Measure (SSAM). The SSAM correlated moderately with self-esteem and habitual positive self-thought. In competitive analyses, the SSAM was an independent predictor of a large number of outcomes. The studies provide evidence about the correlates of individual differences in reported spontaneous self-affirmation in response to threat and the contribution made to this response by habitual positive self-thought and trait self-esteem.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	self-affirmation; self-esteem; habitual positive self-thought; threat; individual differences
Schools and Departments:	School of Psychology > Psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Depositing User:	Anna Hobbs
Date Deposited:	07 Sep 2018 11:01
Last Modified:	07 Sep 2018 11:01
URI:	http://srodev.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/78551

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