Showing papers by "Mark R. Leary published in 2004"

The Curse of the Self: Self-Awareness, Egotism, and the Quality of Human Life

Abstract: Human beings have the ability to be self reflective, or to think consciously about themselves, which allows them, among other things, to imagine themselves in the future, anticipate the consequences of their behaviour, plan ahead, and take steps to improve themselves. Despite these obvious advantages, self-reflection comes at a high price. Most people occasionally realize that it causes problems, such as when they cannot stop dwelling on some past failure or future worry, when their ego fuels conflicts with other people, or when their mental chatter keeps them awake at night. Yet few people realize neither how profoundly their lives are affected by their self-reflection, nor how frequently this inner chatter interferes with their success, pollutes their relationships with others, and undermines their happiness. The mental apparatus that enables us to be self-reflective is the same one responsible for most of the personal and social difficulties we face as individuals and as a species. The egocentric, egotistical self blinds people to their own shortcomings, undermines their relationships with others, and leads to social conflict.Self-reflection distorts peoples perceptions of the world, leading them to make bad decisions based on faulty information. By allowing people to ruminate about the past or imagine what might happen in the future, it also conjures up a great deal of personal suffering in the form of depression, anxiety, anger, jealousy, and other negative emotions. A great deal of unhappiness, in the form of addictions, overeating, and domestic violence, is due to peoples inability to exert control over their thoughts and behaviour. This lack of control has led visionaries throughout history to proclaim that the egoic self stymies our quest for spiritual fulfilment and leads to immoral behaviour. Is it possible to direct our self reflection in a way that will minimize the disadvantages and maximize the advantages? Is there a way to affect the egotistical self through self-reflection? In this volume Mark Leary explores the personal and social problems that are created by the capacity for self-reflection, and by drawing upon psychology and other behavioural sciences, offers insights into how these problems can be minimized.

Self-Presentational Processes in Health-Damaging Behavior

Abstract: Self-presentation has been shown to play a role in the performance of a variety of potentially health-damaging behaviors such as substance abuse, exercise avoidance, failing to wear protective sports equipment, and failing to seek medical treatment (Leary, Tchividjian, & Kraxberger, 1994; Martin, Leary, & Rejeski, 2000). Using the two component model of impression management (Leary & Kowalski, 1990) as an organizational framework, this paper discusses the role of impression-motivation and impression-construction in the performance of health-damaging behaviors in physical activity and other contexts. Research is reviewed that examines both features of the immediate situation (e.g., the number and identity of other people who are present, operating norms and roles, incentives) and characteristics of the individual (e.g., traits, values, goals, self-concept) that affect the performance of health-damaging behaviors for self-presentational reasons. Recommendations for future research are discussed.

The function of self-esteem in terror management theory and sociometer theory: comment on Pyszczynski et al. (2004).

Abstract: By applying different standards of evidence to sociometer theory than to terror management theory (TMT), T. Pyszczynski, J. Greenberg, S. Solomon, J. Arndt, and J. Schimel's (2004) review offers an imbalanced appraisal of the theories' merits. Many of Pyszczynski et al.'s (2004) criticisms of sociometer theory apply equally to TMT. and others are based on misconstruals of the theory or misunderstandings regarding how people respond when rejected. Furthermore, much of their review is only indirectly relevant to TMT's position on the function of self-esteem, and the review fails to acknowledge logical and empirical challenges to TMT. A more balanced review suggests that each theory trumps the other in certain respects, both have difficulty explaining all of the evidence regarding self-esteem, and the propositions of each theory can be roughly translated into the concepts of the other. For these reasons, declaring a theoretical winner at this time is premature.

The interface of social and clinical psychology : key readings

Abstract: Part 1: Introduction. M.R. Leary, R.M. Kowalski, An Introduction to Social-clinical Psychology. M.R. Leary, J.E. Maddux, Progress Toward a Viable Interface between Social and Clinical-counseling Psychology. Part 2: Social Psychological Processes in the Development and Maintenance of Emotional and Behavioral Problems. C.A. Anderson, R.S. Miller, A.L. Riger, J.C. Dill, C. Sedikides, Behavioral and Characterological Attributional Styles as Predictors of Depression and Loneliness: Review, Refinement and Test. C. Peterson, R.S. Vaidya, Explanatory Style, Expectations, and Depressive Symptoms. R.F. Baumeister, T.F. Heatherton, Self-regulation Failure: An Overview. C. Peterson, M.E.P. Seligman, K.H. Yurko, L.R. Martin, H.S. Friedman, Catastrophizing and Untimely Death. B.M. Braginsky, D.D. Braginsky, Schizophrenic Patients in the Psychiatric Interview: An Experimental Study of Their Effectiveness at Manipulation. S. Berglas, E.E. Jones, Drug Choice as a Self-handicapping Strategy in Response to Noncontingent Success. C.S. Crandall, Social Cognition of Binge Eating. M.R. Leary, L.S. Schreindorfer, A.L. Haupt, The Role of Self-esteem in Emotional and Behavioral Problems: Why is Low Self-esteem Dysfunctional? F.D. Fincham, T.N. Bradbury, Marital Satisfaction, Depression, and Attributions: A Longitudinal Analysis. J.E. Hokanson, M.P. Rubert, R.A. Welker, G.R. Hollander, C. Hedeen, Interpersonal Concomitants and Antecedents of Depression among College Students. S. Strack, J.C. Coyne, Social Confirmation of Dysphoria: Shared and Private Reactions to Depression. G. Downey, S.I. Feldman, Implications of Rejection Sensitivity for Intimate Relationships. Part 3: Social Psychological Processes in the Perception and Diagnosis of Psychological Problems. D.L. Rosenhan, On Being Sane in Insane Places. E.J. Langer, R.P. Abelson, A Patient by Any Other Name. Clinical Group Difference in Labeling Bias. J. Copeland, M. Snyder, When Counselors Confirm: A Functional Analysis. J.E. Maddux, The Mythology of Psychopathology: A Social Cognitive View of Deviance, Difference, and Disorder. P.W. Corrigan, D.L. Penn, Lessons from Social Psychology on Discrediting Psychiatric Stigma. Part 4: Social Psychological Processes in Clinical Treatment and Psychological Change. J. Frank, American Psychotherapy in Perspective (Excerpt from Persuasion and Healing). D.R. Forsyth, S.R. Strong, The Scientific Study of Counseling and Psychotherapy: A Unificationist View. J.W. Pennebaker, J.K. Kiecolt-Glaser, R. Glaser, Disclosure of Traumas and Immune Function: Health Implications for Psychotherapy. D. Axsom, J. Cooper, Cognitive Dissonance and Psychotherapy: The Role of Effort Justification in Inducing Weight Loss. B.W. McNeill, C.D. Stoltenberg, Reconceptualizing Social Influence in Counseling: The Elaboration Likelihood Model. E.J. Langer, J. Rodin, The Effects of Choice and Enhanced Personal Responsibility for the Aged: A Field Experiment in an Institutional Setting. W.B. Swann, Jr, The Trouble with Change: Self-verification and Allegiance to the Self. Appendix. C.H. Jordan, M.P. Zanna, How to Read a Journal Article in Social Psychology.

Measuring School Spirit: A National Teaching Exercise

Abstract: We developed a novel variation on classroom data collection by having students conduct a national research project. Students at 20 different colleges and universities measured “school spirit” at their institutions according to several operational criteria (school apparel wearing, car stickers, alumni donation rate, ratings by a major sports publication, and questionnaire measures). Instructors then combined this information into one large dataset, allowing students to analyze and compare trends measured at their school with those measured at other schools. We discuss the process of organizing a national study (recruitment of faculty participants, dissemination of instruments, compilation of data), aspects of the project that instructors thought were most educationally valuable, and substantive results of the study (how well the different measures of school spirit correlated).