Effect of Psychological Distance on Intention in Self-Affirmation Theory

• Published in: Psychological reports Vol. 123; no. 6; pp. 2101 - 2124
• Main Authors: Shin, Myoungjin, Kim, Yeonjin, Park, Seungha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-12-2020
• Subjects: psychological distance; Self-affirmation theory; health threat message; physical activity intention; construal level theory
• ISSN: 0033-2941; 1558-691X
• DOI: 10.1177/0033294119856547

In previous studies, self-affirmation has been shown to have no effect or have a negative impact on intention to change. We applied construal level theory to examine possible reasons for inconsistencies among findings in existing self-affirmation studies. In Study 1, when female college students in their 20s (N = 113) received health threat information with a psychologically proximal breast cancer message, it induced low-level construal and increased specific physical activity intention. In Study 2, when self-affirmed participants were exposed to health threat information with a psychologically distal Alzheimer’s disease message, there was no increase in specific physical activity intention. These results suggest that when a discrepancy exists between the psychological distance of health threat information and the intention reflecting the construal level, no change of intention occurs, even in self-affirmed individuals.