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Mnemic neglect and self-threat: trait modifiability moderates self-protection

Mnemic neglect and self-threat: trait modifiability moderates self-protection
Mnemic neglect and self-threat: trait modifiability moderates self-protection
The mnemic neglect effect is the phenomenon of disproportionately poor recall for threatening (rather than non-threatening) feedback that refers to the self (rather than another person). Does trait modifiability moderate mnemic neglect? We hypothesized that mnemic neglect will be present for feedback on unmodifiable traits, but absent for feedback on modifiable traits. In the latter case, the feedback would be lower in threat potential because its consequences are fleeting and steps to prevent its reoccurrence are possible. Participants received mixed (threatening and non-threatening) feedback that referred either to the self or another person. The feedback pertained to (central and peripheral) self-conceptions that were either unmodifiable or modifiable. In support of the hypothesis, mnemic neglect emerged for feedback on unmodifiable, but not modifiable, traits. The findings illustrate the selective and strategic nature of self-protection.
0046-2772
225-235
Green, Jeffrey D.
4dc0383d-8061-41f3-a5d3-e12be4e54075
Pinter, Brad
4404cd89-0aa3-4bf5-b745-d4aaae7eab8c
Sedikides, Constantine
9d45e66d-75bb-44de-87d7-21fd553812c2
Green, Jeffrey D.
4dc0383d-8061-41f3-a5d3-e12be4e54075
Pinter, Brad
4404cd89-0aa3-4bf5-b745-d4aaae7eab8c
Sedikides, Constantine
9d45e66d-75bb-44de-87d7-21fd553812c2

Green, Jeffrey D., Pinter, Brad and Sedikides, Constantine (2005) Mnemic neglect and self-threat: trait modifiability moderates self-protection. European Journal of Social Psychology, 35 (2), 225-235. (doi:10.1002/ejsp.242).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The mnemic neglect effect is the phenomenon of disproportionately poor recall for threatening (rather than non-threatening) feedback that refers to the self (rather than another person). Does trait modifiability moderate mnemic neglect? We hypothesized that mnemic neglect will be present for feedback on unmodifiable traits, but absent for feedback on modifiable traits. In the latter case, the feedback would be lower in threat potential because its consequences are fleeting and steps to prevent its reoccurrence are possible. Participants received mixed (threatening and non-threatening) feedback that referred either to the self or another person. The feedback pertained to (central and peripheral) self-conceptions that were either unmodifiable or modifiable. In support of the hypothesis, mnemic neglect emerged for feedback on unmodifiable, but not modifiable, traits. The findings illustrate the selective and strategic nature of self-protection.

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Published date: 2005

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 40290
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/40290
ISSN: 0046-2772
PURE UUID: 75f5a0fd-bb1f-49b3-a5e1-27526f5a4861
ORCID for Constantine Sedikides: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-4036-889X

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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2006
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:08

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Contributors

Author: Jeffrey D. Green
Author: Brad Pinter

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