Valence of self-cognitions: the positivity of individual self-statements.
Based on D. Trafimow, H. C. Triandis, and S. Goto's (1991) research on the distinction between the private, collective, and relational selves, the present authors explored the valence of each self. The authors administered to participants either a private self-prime, a collective self-prime, or a relational self-prime and then asked them to write 20 self-statements. The authors coded the statements for valence (positive, neutral, or negative) and self-statement type (individual, collective, or relational). The results indicated that the valence of individual self-statements were most positive when the collective self or the relational self was primed, indicating the possibility that positive illusions were exaggerated most in the context of other people.
Psychology Department, MSC 3452, New Mexico State University, P. O. Box 30001, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001, USA. gbromgar@nmsu.edu
Gregg D
GD
Bromgard
David
D
Trafimow
Irina K
IK
Bromgard
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007088:Illusions; D008297:Male; D009516:New Mexico; D012649:Self Concept; D019455:Self Psychology