Effects of reflective processes on social-emotional trait development in adulthood

• Verfasst von: Küchler, Gabriela [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Borgdorf, Kira Skirwitt Ann [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Aguilar-Raab, Corina [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Wrzus, Cornelia [VerfasserIn]
• Titel: Effects of reflective processes on social-emotional trait development in adulthood
• Titelzusatz: insights from two multi-method studies
• Verf.angabe: Gabriela Küchler, Kira S. A. Borgdorf, Corina Aguilar-Raab, Cornelia Wrzus
• E-Jahr: 2025
• Jahr: 06 March 2025
• Umfang: 21 S.
• Fussnoten: Gesehen am 10.07.2025
• Titel Quelle: Enthalten in: Journal of personality
• Ort Quelle: Oxford : Wiley-Blackwell, 1945
• Jahr Quelle: 2025
• Band/Heft Quelle: (2025), early view, Seite 1-21
• ISSN Quelle: 1467-6494
• DOI: doi:10.1111/jopy.13016
• Datenträger: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: eng
• Sach-SW: Big Five
• Sach-SW: comparisons
• Sach-SW: experiment
• Sach-SW: IAT
• Sach-SW: longitudinal personality development
• Sach-SW: reflective processes
• K10plus-PPN: 1930144024

Abstract

Objective This research investigates how reflective processes, such as past-temporal and social comparisons, enhance changes in explicit and implicit self-concepts of social-emotional traits and whether these effects differ with age. Method We conducted two preregistered multi-method studies to examine whether past-temporal or social comparisons predict changes in emotional stability and extraversion. In the longitudinal study (N = 615, aged 18-84 years), we assessed the frequency of past-temporal and social comparisons, explicit and implicit self-concepts of emotional stability and extraversion at two measuring points 6 months apart. In the experimental study (N = 231, aged 18-93 years), we elicited trait-relevant behavioral changes, manipulated past-temporal versus social comparisons, and assessed explicit and implicit trait self-concepts before and after the manipulation. Results Past-temporal and social comparisons predicted longitudinal changes in the explicit self-concept of emotional stability but not extraversion. The experimental study indicated changes in explicit self-concepts of both traits, regardless of the type of comparison standard. Neither type of comparison predicted changes in implicit self-concepts. The findings were generalizable across age groups. Conclusions This research provides the first evidence that comparisons facilitate the change of explicit but not implicit trait self-concepts. We discuss short-term mechanisms of personality development and future directions for examining them experimentally.