Striving to be known by significant others: automatic activation of self-verification goals in relationship contexts.
Extending research on the automatic activation of goals associated with significant others, the authors hypothesized that self-verification goals typically pursued with significant others are automatically elicited when a significant-other representation is activated. Supporting this hypothesis, the activation of a significant-other representation through priming (Experiments 1 and 3) or through a transference encounter (Experiment 2) led participants to seek feedback that verifies their preexisting self-views. Specifically, significant-other primed participants desired self-verifying feedback, in general (Experiment 1), from an upcoming interaction partner (Experiment 2), and relative to acquaintance-primed participants and favorable feedback (Experiment 3). Finally, self-verification goals were activated, especially for relational self-views deemed high in importance to participants' self-concepts (Experiment 2) and held with high certainty (Experiment 3). Implications for research on self-evaluative goals, the relational self, and the automatic goal activation literature are discussed, as are consequences for close relationships.
Kraus
Michael W
MW
Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkerley, CA, USA. mwkraus@berkeley.edu
Chen
Serena
S
D003469:Culture; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D011385:Projection; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D014167:Transference, Psychology