Feedback-seeking From a Self-evaluation Perspective: the Role of Possible Selves and Current Goals
Year: 2005
Type: article
Abstract: A goal of the study was to examine how activating different working selfconcepts, consisting of possible selves or current goals, would influence self-evaluation motivation.Another goal was to apply a self-evaluation motivation framework to understanding feedback-seeking behavior in organizations.Participants completed a simulation of a clerical job in which they received false performance feedback (positive or negative) and later had the opportunity to seek further feedback (strengths or weaknesses).Priming a possible self or a current goal was expected to result in a selfassessment motive (reflected in a choice of weaknesses) or a self-enhancement motive (reflected in a choice of strengths), respectively.The self-concept manipulation was also expected to interact with the feedback manipulation to influence choice of feedback.Temporal orientation and action identification were expected to moderate the interaction.Finally, the value of feedback and cost of feedback-seeking were expected to mediate the effect of the self-concept manipulation on choice of feedback.The self-concept manipulation did not successfully activate possible self and current goal working self-concepts, and little support was found for the expected patterns of feedback-seeking.However, the self-concept manipulation did interact with future orientation to influence feedback-seeking.In the current goal condition, participants with a lower future orientation had lower odds of choosing strengths feedback compared to those with a higher future orientation.Future orientation had little effect on choice for
Author: Christopher Selenta
Institution: University of Akron
Language: English
Subfield: Applied Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2602109173