Who we are and how we feel: Self-discrepancy theory and specific affective states

Barnett, Michael D.; Moore, Jenna M.; Harp, Aleesa R.

doi:10.1016/j.paid.2017.02.024

Cited by 46 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Additionally, Higgins explained that people try to reach a condition whereby their self-concept corresponds with their personally relevant self-guides, which direct and motivate people to reduce the discrepancy from their internalized self-evaluative standards. Previous studies have affirmed that body image discrepancy is associated with negative body image (Cash & Szymanski, 1995;Dittmar, 2009), body dissatisfaction (Strauman, Vookles, Berenstein, Chaiken, & Higgins, 1991;Williamson, Gleaves, Watkins, & Schlundt, 1993), affective emotional states (Barnett, Moore, & Harp, 2017;Bessenoff & Snow, 2006), and disordered mental health (Higgins, Klein, & Strauman, 1985;Veale, Kinderman, Riley, & Lambrou, 2003). Moreover, women who have higher body dissatisfaction are more dispositioned to be involved in weight-loss efforts than their opposite gender counterparts (Bish et al, 2005;Chang & Christakis, 2003).…”

Section: Self-discrepancy Theory and Body Imagementioning

confidence: 97%

The effect of virtual avatar experience on body image discrepancy, body satisfaction and weight regulation intention

Park¹

2018

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This experimental study aimed to investigate the effect of having a virtual avatar experience on health outcomes in the context of body image and weight regulation. Ninety-three U.S. non-clinical participants (51 men and 42 women) were recruited, who were 18 years and older and had no history of chronic health problems or mental illnesses. Each experiment consisted of the three data collection phases, including the pre-experiment survey, an experience session of a virtual self-avatar, and the post-experiment survey. For the development of the virtual avatar protocol, this study employed 3D body scanning to create a participant’s virtual body model based on accurate anthropometric data, to simulate a virtual avatar closely matched with the participant’s actual physique. Overall, the data indicated an increase in perceived body image discrepancy and a decrease in body satisfaction after participating in a virtual avatar session, and those who showed higher body dissatisfaction exhibited a stronger intention regulated for weight control. Specifically in gender, the statistical results were generally intensified in the female group, but the male group showed a stronger intention to be involved in exercising after virtual avatar experience. The insights gained from this study suggested future directions for research and program development, and urged that practical applications of the virtual avatar approach must be implemented with caution when it uses clinical samples, because its risk-benefit assessment has not been sufficiently investigated yet.

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Section: Self-discrepancy Theory and Body Imagementioning

confidence: 97%

The effect of virtual avatar experience on body image discrepancy, body satisfaction and weight regulation intention

Park¹

2018

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“…In addition, it has been shown that a deviation of the self from normative values that are salient in a given society or having relatively lower income compared to neighbors' earnings impedes happiness Scheier 1982, 1990;Firebaugh and Schroeder 2009;Luttmer 2005). Indeed, empirical studies that have examined the link between self-discrepancy and measures of happiness demonstrate that self-congruence is associated with greater subjective well-being (Pavot et al 1997), life satisfaction (Reich et al 2013), affective states (Barnett et al 2017), less psychological distress and heightened self-esteem (McDaniel and Grice 2008). Furthermore, both high and low arousal of positive emotional experiences have been found to be associated with congruence between actual self-attributes and the attributes of ideal and ought self-guides (Higgins et al 1986;Strauman 1990;Strauman and Higgins 1987).…”

Section: Self-discrepancy Theory and Happinessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Discrepancy Regarding Self, Family, and Country and Well-Being: The Critical Role of Self and Cultural Orientation

Kwon

Choi

et al. 2018

J Happiness Stud

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Previous research on self-discrepancy has mainly focused on the discrepancy between the actual and ideal or ought state at the personal level, and how they relate to well-being with little attention to the discrepancy regarding the family and country, which may also be very relevant to one's well-being in a more collectivistic culture. The present study examined not only the discrepancy about oneself but also the discrepancies one perceives regarding their family and country and their relation to different measures of well-being, while taking cultural orientation into consideration. Across Study 1 and Study 2 examining Korean undergraduate participants, the actual-ideal self-discrepancies had the strongest association with well-being while the family-and country-discrepancies had weaker associations. Study 2 further showed that the actual-ideal self-discrepancies predicted well-being to a greater degree for the individualistic than for the collectivistic, while the actual-ought selfdiscrepancies was predictive of happiness to a greater degree for the collectivistic.

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“…The actual self represents the attributes one believes he or she actually possesses, the ideal self represents the attributes one desires to possess, and the ought self represents the attributes one believes she or he should possess (Higgins, 1987). A self-discrepancy is produced when there is a conflict between these domains, resulting in negative emotions and vulnerabilities (Barnett, Moore, & Harp, 2017; Higgins, 1987). Specifically, Barnett, Moore, and Harp (2017) found that sadness, downheartedness, and feeling more alone were feelings experienced by those who believed their actual selves were further from their ideal selves.…”

Section: Body Scanning and Sdtmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A self-discrepancy is produced when there is a conflict between these domains, resulting in negative emotions and vulnerabilities (Barnett, Moore, & Harp, 2017; Higgins, 1987). Specifically, Barnett, Moore, and Harp (2017) found that sadness, downheartedness, and feeling more alone were feelings experienced by those who believed their actual selves were further from their ideal selves. Such emotions were found to be stronger in those who had a greater magnitude of self-discrepancy (Higgins, 1987).…”

Section: Body Scanning and Sdtmentioning

confidence: 99%

Before and After Avatar Exposure

Ridgway

2017

Clothing and Textiles Research Journal

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Loker et. al. initiated a call for research investigating how third dimension (3-D) affects one's perceptions of their own body by raising the following questions: Will the ability to see ourselves in 3-D increase body acceptance of normal variations and counteract the popular media images of what constitutes a beautiful body? Or will 3-D views increase dissatisfaction with our real bodies? In response, the researcher guided by self-discrepancy theory, investigated the unique experience of viewing one's body in 3-D on participants' self-reported levels of body satisfaction, mood, and appearance management. Results indicated that viewing one's avatar in 3-D magnifies individuals' actual-ideal (AI) self-discrepancies regardless of gender. The researcher observed decreased body satisfaction and mood when the magnitude of participants' AI discrepancies increased. Both men and women indicated wanting to engage in greater appearance management behaviors postavatar viewing compared to baseline reports. The theoretical and applied implications are discussed.

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Who we are and how we feel: Self-discrepancy theory and specific affective states

Cited by 46 publications

References 27 publications

The effect of virtual avatar experience on body image discrepancy, body satisfaction and weight regulation intention

The effect of virtual avatar experience on body image discrepancy, body satisfaction and weight regulation intention

Discrepancy Regarding Self, Family, and Country and Well-Being: The Critical Role of Self and Cultural Orientation

Before and After Avatar Exposure

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