Effect of Psychological Distance on Intention in Self-Affirmation Theory
- Authors
- Shin, Myoungjin; Kim, Yeonjin; Park, Seungha
- Issue Date
- Dec-2020
- Publisher
- Ammons Scientific Ltd.
- Keywords
- Self-affirmation theory; construal level theory; psychological distance; physical activity intention; health threat message
- Citation
- Psychological Reports, v.123, no.6, pp 2101 - 2124
- Pages
- 24
- Journal Title
- Psychological Reports
- Volume
- 123
- Number
- 6
- Start Page
- 2101
- End Page
- 2124
- URI
- https://scholarworks.bwise.kr/sch/handle/2021.sw.sch/19368
- DOI
- 10.1177/0033294119856547
- ISSN
- 0033-2941
1558-691x
- Abstract
- In previous studies, self-affirmation has been shown to have no effect or have a negative impact on intention to change. We applied construal level theory to examine possible reasons for inconsistencies among findings in existing self-affirmation studies. In Study 1, when female college students in their 20s (N = 113) received health threat information with a psychologically proximal breast cancer message, it induced low-level construal and increased specific physical activity intention. In Study 2, when self-affirmed participants were exposed to health threat information with a psychologically distal Alzheimer's disease message, there was no increase in specific physical activity intention. These results suggest that when a discrepancy exists between the psychological distance of health threat information and the intention reflecting the construal level, no change of intention occurs, even in self-affirmed individuals.
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