The simple life: on the benefits of low self-complexity.
This article examines the spillover amplification hypothesis, which proposes that because people lower in self-complexity experience stronger responses to life events they will show relatively better well-being in the presence of positive factors (e.g., better social support) and relatively poorer well-being in the presence of negative factors (e.g., a history of negative experiences). Across three studies, support for spillover amplification was found. Specifically, people lower in self-complexity revealed greater self-esteem, less depression, and fewer illnesses when they had greater social support (Study 1) and more desirable personality characteristics (Study 2), yet they had poorer well-being if they had a history of many negative life events (Study 3). Thus, how one's self-concept is represented in memory moderates the relationship between many well-established factors and well-being.
McConnell
Allen R
AR
Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA. mcconnar@muohio.edu
Strain
Laura M
LM
Brown
Christina M
CM
Rydell
Robert J
RJ
D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011336:Probability; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires