Neuroticism and the architecture of the self: exploring neuroticism as a moderator of the impact of ideal self-discrepancies on emotion.
Two studies examined the moderating role of neuroticism in discrepancy-emotion relations. In Study 1, neuroticism, self-discrepancies, and depression were measured. Multiple regression analyses revealed a significant interaction between neuroticism and ideal self-discrepancies such that the magnitude of ideal self-discrepancies was a stronger predictor of depression for people high in neuroticism than people low in neuroticism. Study 2 used an experimental paradigm to test the same hypothesis. Participants were randomly assigned to an ideal self-discrepancy salience condition or a control condition in which ideal self-discrepancies were not made salient. A significant interaction between self-discrepancy condition and neuroticism emerged such that the ideal self-discrepancy condition produced higher dejection-related affect relative to the control condition for people high in neuroticism compared to people low in neuroticism.
Wasylkiw
Louise
L
Department of Psychology, Mount Allison University, 49A York Street, Sackville, New Brunswick E4L 1C7, Canada. lwasylkiw@mta.ca
Fabrigar
Leandre R
LR
Rainboth
Sarah
S
Reid
Adam
A
Steen
Christina
C
D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D010551:Personality; D010556:Personality Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012649:Self Concept