The dynamic interplay between perceived true self-knowledge and decision satisfaction.

Abstract

The present research used multiple methods to examine the hypothesis that perceived true self-knowledge and decision satisfaction are inextricably linked together by a widely held "true-self-as-guide" lay theory of decision making. Consistent with this proposition, Study 1 found that participants rated using the true self as a guide as more important for achieving personal satisfaction than a variety of other potential decision-making strategies. After establishing the prevalence of this lay theory, the remaining studies then focused on examining the proposed consequent relationship between perceived true self-knowledge and decision satisfaction. Consistent with hypotheses, 2 cross-sectional correlational studies (Studies 2 and 3) found a positive relationship between perceived true self-knowledge and decision satisfaction for different types of major decisions. Study 4 used daily diary methods to demonstrate that fluctuations in perceived true self-knowledge reliably covary with fluctuations in decision satisfaction. Finally, 2 studies directly examined the causal direction of this relationship through experimental manipulation and revealed that the relationship is truly bidirectional. More specifically, Study 5 showed that manipulating perceived knowledge of the true self (but not other self-concepts) directly affects decision satisfaction. Study 6 showed that this effect also works in reverse by manipulating feelings of decision satisfaction, which directly affected perceived knowledge of the true self (but not other self-concepts). Taken together, these studies suggest that people believe the true self should be used as a guide when making major life decisions and that this belief has observable consequences for the self and decision making.

Consistent Belief in a Good True Self in Misanthropes and Three Interdependent Cultures

“…Finally, it is worth emphasizing that although the current findings show that people's true self beliefs can come aside from their predictions about future behavior, existing work suggests that true self beliefs have a strong impact in numerous other domains, including attributions about behavior (Johnson et al., ; Newman, Bloom, et al., ; Newman et al., ), assessments of personal character (Newman et al., ), beliefs about the meaning of life (Schlegel et al., ), satisfaction with major life decisions (Schlegel et al., ), general measures of well‐being (Schimel et al., ), a variety of everyday judgments (Newman et al., ), and intergroup behavior (J. De Freitas & M. Cikara, unpublished data).…”

Evaluating the validity of Myers‐Briggs Type Indicator theory: A teaching tool and window into intuitive psychology

“…Conversely, we expect that that many people see the "deep" insights that MBTI delivers as something that is quite divorced from scientific process. This is especially problematic if, as recent research suggests, people believe they are guided by deep, unobservable essences (see Strohminger et al, 2017, andQuillien, 2018, for recent reviews) and that basing decisions on those deep desires is key to decision satisfaction (Schlegel, Hicks, Davis, Hirsch, & Smith, 2013). The desire for this knowledge and the appeal of MBTI-style theory is therefore an unfortunate combination, and attacking MBTI on theoretical or psychometric grounds might have little effect on what some people intuitively expect from MBTI, and/or encourage them to invent new reasons why MBTI is useful (cf.…”

Thinking about Change in the Self and Others: The Role of Self-Discovery Metaphors and the True Self

“…For example, people like their true selves better than their actual selves (i.e., their outward behavior in their daily lives; Schlegel, Hicks, Arndt, & King, 2009) and their "false selves" (Harter, 2002;Harter & Monsour, 1992). They also experience a host of positive psychological benefits when they feel like they are "in touch" with their true selves, such as increased self-esteem (Andersen & Williams, 1985), reduced defensiveness (e.g., Arndt, Schimel, Greenberg & Pyszcynski, 2002), less ego-involved emotions (Vess, Schlegel, Hicks, & Arndt, 2014), increased meaning in life (Schlegel et al, 2009;Schlegel Hicks, King, & Arndt, 2011), and increased decision satisfaction (Schlegel, Hicks, Davis, Hirsch, & Smith, 2013). Further, most people hold a lay theory that the true self should be used to guide one's decision making (Schlegel et al, 2013), suggesting that they explicitly believe the true self is fundamentally good and important.…”