Harris, Philine S, Harris, Peter R and Miles, Eleanor (2017) Self-affirmation improves performance on tasks related to executive functioning. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 70. pp. 281-285. ISSN 0022-1031

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Abstract

Objectives: The current study explored the effect of self-affirmation on two aspects of performance that have been related to executive functioning: working memory (assessed by a 2-back task) and inhibition (assessed by a Stroop task). The goal was to establish whether self-affirmation improved performance on these tasks.

Method: Participants (N = 83) were randomized to either a self-affirmation or a control task and then completed the computerized tasks, in a fixed sequence.

Results: Self-affirmed participants performed better than non-affirmed participants on both tasks.

Conclusion: Self-affirmation can improve aspects of performance related to executive functioning. This finding may help to explain the wide range of beneficial effects that self-affirmation can have on cognition and behavior.

Item Type:	Article
Schools and Departments:	School of Psychology > Psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion
Depositing User:	Lene Hyltoft
Date Deposited:	16 Jan 2017 10:31
Last Modified:	11 Jun 2017 22:56
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/66213

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