Material Type  

 학위논문

 

0016934410

Date and Time of Latest Transaction  

20240214101606

ISBN  

9798380272452

DDC  

658

Author  

Xu, Chunchen.

Title/Author  

Central Values as Constraints: Situational Accessibility of Central Values Predicts Exploration - [electronic resource]

Publish Info  

[S.l.] : Stanford University., 2021

Publish Info  

Ann Arbor : ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, 2021

Material Info  

1 online resource(99 p.)

General Note  

Source: Dissertations Abstracts International, Volume: 85-03, Section: A.

General Note  

Advisor: Flynn, Francis J.;Halevy, Nir;Lowery, Brian.

학위논문주기  

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Stanford University, 2021.

Restrictions on Access Note  

This item must not be sold to any third party vendors.

Abstracts/Etc  

요약It is a common phenomenon that values become part of people's self-concept. In fact, self-defining or central valuesare various and prevalent, and offer a myriad of psychological benefits. Central values also profoundly affect people's motivation and behavior. Central values, when assessible in a situation, are associated with greater openness for exploration. Two existing theories have offered explanations for the psychological underpinnings of the link between central value accessibility and exploration. Self-Affirmation Theory postulates that accessibility of central values offers a constructive avenue to achieve a positive self-image. As a result, people are better equipped to face uncertainty and engage in exploration. Another line of research on Adult Attachment Theory claims that the behavior systems of attachment and exploration are interconnected in adults. Because central values are rooted in social connections with others, situational accessibility of central values enhances people's secure attachment to care-giving figures. This enhanced relational resources support people's exploratory endeavors.In this dissertation, I propose a novel and a more general, though not incompatible theoretical account to explicate the link between central value accessibility and exploration. I draw on the notion of constraintsfrom research on belief systems and conceptualize central values as a constrained system as well. I argue that the constraints of central values are maintained through three mechanisms: 1) central values are embedded in a web of other concepts; 2) central values are reinforced by behavioral mechanisms; 3) central values are shared by one's meaningful social relationships. I also delineate the psychological benefits and downsides that come with the constraints of central values. I then suggest that people react to constraints of central values by engaging in exploration to increase their experience of freedom. Here, I construe exploration as a domain-general motivational state in which people experience a desire to approach uncertain situations and objects. Exploration imparts uncertainty to the self, thereby restoring the dynamism of the self-concept. Overall, this constraint-based account of central values sheds light on how people can benefit from having central values while lessening the self-rigidity that comes with it.I also summarize existing theories on psychological balance, positing that people gravitate towards a certain psychological state that they feel most comfortable with. When they deviate from that state, they experience a tendency to return to it. I review a wide array of relevant theories on psychological balance and suggest that balance might be the nexus of otherwise disparate findings in the literature. In this context, the link between central value accessibility and exploration could be understood as people's tendency to balance the stability and dynamism of the self-concept.Across a series of five empirical studies, I find evidence in support of my main hypotheses, using a wide range of samples and contexts. In addition, I show that an interest in exploration subsequently predicts risk-taking behaviors such as choosing risky options in a lottery. I also identify an important antecedent of central values: the level of sharedness of values by one's in-group members.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Behavior.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Motivation.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Racial identity.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Political activism.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Attachment.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Morality.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Emotions.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Attitudes.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Self esteem.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Adults.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Decision making.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Personality psychology.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Political science.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Psychology.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Sociology.

Added Entry-Corporate Name  

Stanford University.

Host Item Entry  

Dissertations Abstracts International. 85-03A.

Host Item Entry  

Dissertation Abstract International

Electronic Location and Access  

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소장사항  

202402 2024

Control Number  

joongbu:643198