Psychology Commons^™

Individual Differences That Moderate The Effectiveness Of Relational Reasons For Self-Improvement, Jonathan Gore

Jonathan Gore

Two studies tested the hypotheses that relationally-autonomous reasons (RARs) for goals predict attainment, and that this relationship is stronger among highly relational and agreeable people than others. Study 1 (n = 134) assessed participants’ self-construal and Agreeableness, and their tendency to pursue subgoals for RARs, relationally-controlled reasons (RCRs), and personally-controlled reasons (PARs). One month later, they indicated the number of subgoals they had attained. RARs were positively correlated with attainment, and this relationship was stronger among highly relational and agreeable people than others. In Study 2 (n = 74), self-construal and Agreeableness were assessed then participants generated possible outcomes of …

The Effects Of A Computer Malfunction On Subsequent Task Performance, Nicole Zimmerman, Everett Sambrook, Jonathan Gore

Jonathan Gore

Although previous research has examined the effects of computer malfunctions on employee frustration, to our knowledge no research has explored computer malfunction's effect on subsequent task performance. It was hypothesised that participants who experience a malfunction would perform worse on a subsequent task than those who experience no malfunction. Participants (n = 204) were randomly assigned to experience either a computer malfunction or not during the first task. Participants then completed a subsequent task. The results confirmed that the Malfunction group performed worse than the Control group on both tasks. Implications for workplace performance are discussed.

DOI: 10.1080/0144929X.2012.733412

Personality Traits That Predict Academic Citizenship Behavior, Jonathan Gore, Allison Kiefner, Kristen Combs

Jonathan Gore

The association between personality and organizational citizenship behaviors is rarely examined in student populations. The present research tested the hypothesis that conscientiousness, agreeableness, and neuroticism predict unique variance in academic citizenship attitudes. In the first study, 270 college students completed an online questionnaire assessing their personality and academic citizenship attitudes. The results confirmed the hypothesis. In Study 2, we also tested the hypothesis that academic citizenship attitudes mediate the association between personality and citizenship behavior. Participants (n = 50) completed the online questionnaire. At a later session, they were asked to engage in an extra-role helping behavior after completing the …

Defining And Measuring Self-Concept Change, Jonathan Gore, Susan Cross

Jonathan Gore

The self-concept and the manners by which it changes are two of the most important, and challenging, areas of psychological study. In this review, we define the self-concept as a multifaceted psychological construct, composed of a variety of characteristics. People with low self-esteem, incremental theorists, self-monitors, and people with a high uncertainty orientation and relational self-construal are mentioned as some of the types of people who are likely to undergo change. Various approaches to measuring the self-concept and investigating it across cultures are also discussed. Recommendations for future research include utilizing an intraclass correlation coefficient measure of change, and accounting …

Acting In Our Interests: Relational Self-Construal And Goal Motivation Across Cultures, Jonathan Gore, Susan Cross, Chie Kanagawa

Jonathan Gore

Relationally-autonomous reasons (RARs) are motives for behavior that take into account one’s close relationships. A cross-cultural model tested the hypotheses that (a) people with a highly relational self-construal will pursue their goals for RARs, and (b) RARs will predict positive goal outcomes after controlling for variance explained by personally-autonomous reasons (PARs) and social support. One hundred seventy Americans and 219 Japanese completed a well-being and self questionnaire then generated and rated seven goals on several attributes. Results showed that relational self-construal was associated with RARs for goals. RARs predicted effort directly and predicted progress and purpose in life indirectly for …

The Role Of Relational Self-Construal In Reactions To Charity Advertisements, K. Burton, Jonathan Gore, Jennifer Sturgeon

Jonathan Gore

Three studies examined the effect of relational self-construal on attitudes and behaviors toward charity advertisements after controlling for sex. In Study 1, 110 undergraduates completed a measure of relational self-construal and a questionnaire assessing liking toward charity advertisements. Study 2 (n = 121) utilized the same procedure as Study 1, but measured perceived effectiveness of the advertisements. Study 3 (n = 90) used a behavioral measure of helping. The results demonstrated that those with a highly relational self-construal had more favorable attitudes toward the advertisements and were more likely to help. This indicates that charities may consider targeting individuals who …

Using Personality Profiles And Gender To Predict Affect, Chelsey Vandyke, Jonathan Gore

Jonathan Gore

Despite the abundance of research examining the association between personality traits and affect, few researchers have examined personality profiles. The hypotheses tested in this study examined how gender, extraversion, and neuroticism interact to predict positive and negative affect. Participants (n = 2,542) completed personality and mood surveys online. Bivariate correlation analyses and hierarchical linear regression analyses were conducted to analyze the data. Results supported previous findings about the correlation between neuroticism, extraversion, and negative and positive affect, and people who are high on extraversion and high on neuroticism experienced the most affect variability. The correlation of extraversion and positive affect …

Relational Self-Construal And The Process Of Forming New Relationships, Shawn Butcher, Jonathan Gore

Jonathan Gore

The present study examined the relationship between relational self-construal and the types of questions and answers that an individual gives upon first meeting another person. We predicted that a participant’s relational self-construal would positively correlate with the amount of relational questions asked and negatively with the amount of superficial questions asked, as well as positively correlating with word count, relational answers, and emotional answers. A negative correlation between participant’s relational self-construal and factual answers was also predicted. One hundred fourteen participants were asked to select 10 questions from a list of questions that would allow them to get to know …

Task Framing And Perceived Fit: The Role Of Personality, Task Label, And Partner Involvement, Jonathan Gore, Susan Cross

Jonathan Gore

Two experiments tested the hypothesis that individual differences in social connectedness moderate the association between task frame and perceptions of the task. In experiment 1, 75 participants completed an assessment of relational self-construal prior to engaging in an interview with a partner. Participants then received an explanation that the interview enhanced either relationship skills or occupational skills. Results indicated that high relationals perceived their partner more favorably when the task was framed as relational then when it was framed as occupational. In experiment 2, 185 participants completed self-construal and agreeableness assessments before completing an interview task with or without a …

Cultural Models Of The Self, Susan Cross, Jonathan Gore

Jonathan Gore

Describes the cultural foundations of divergent models of the self and reviews recent research comparing Western, independent conceptions of the self with East Asian, interdependent views of the self. The chapter concludes with comments on how cross-cultural investigations can continue to inform research on the self and its role in behavior.

Appalachian Origin Moderates The Association Between School Connectedness And Gpa, Steffan Wilson, Jonathan Gore

Jonathan Gore

The relationship between connectedness to the university, Appalachian regional origin, and self-reported GPA was investigated in two studies. Both studies found that the association between school connectedness and GPA was positive among Appalachian students. However, counter to previous research, there was no association among the non-Appalachian students.

Relational Self-Construal Moderates The Link Between Goal Coherence And Well-Being, Jonathan Gore, Susan Cross

Jonathan Gore

Two studies examined the moderating effect of relational self-construal on the association between goal coherence and psychological well-being in two domains: relationships and academics. In Study 1, 178 undergraduates completed measures of their self-construal and life satisfaction, listed and categorized 7 goals, and then completed a measure of goal dependence. Study 2 (n = 166) used the same procedure as Study 1 except participants completed measures of purpose in life and a Goal Instrumentality Matrix. Results indicated that the association between academic goal coherence and well-being was positive for low relationals, but non-significant or negative for high relationals. These results …

Pursuing Goals For Us: Relationally Autonomous Reasons In Long-Term Goal Pursuit, Jonathan Gore, Susan Cross

Jonathan Gore

People pursue goals for a variety of reasons, including reasons that take into account close relationships (termed relationally autonomous reasons, or RARs). Two longitudinal studies examined the degree to which relational self-construal, RARs, and personally autonomous reasons (PARs) predicted goal attainment. In Study 1, 166 participants rated 7 goals on several goal outcomes at 2 sessions. Results revealed that self-construal was positively associated with RARs and that RARs predicted goal attainment, controlling for PARs. Study 2 (N = 177) added a 3rd follow-up to the Study 1 design, and results showed perceived progress toward one's goals predicted enhanced RARs but …

Let's Be Friends: Relational Self-Construal And The Development Of Intimacy, Jonathan Gore, Susan Cross, Michael Morris

Jonathan Gore

Two studies examined the role of relational self-construal in the development and maintenance of intimacy in roommate relationships. In Study 1, 98 roommate pairs completed questionnaires assessing attitudes toward their relationship. Results showed that high relationals disclosed more personal information than lows, which was then associated with their roommates’ perceptions of relationship quality. In Study 2, 142 roommate pairs followed the Study 1 procedure with a 1-month follow-up session for the participants (86% returned). Results replicated the findings of Study 1 and showed reciprocated disclosure from the roommates, followed by increased disclosure by the participants at Time 2. These findings …