Skip to main content
Search
Search
    Quick Search anywhere
    Quick search in Citations
Advanced Search
Skip main navigationClose Drawer MenuOpen Drawer Menu
Next article
Original Article

I Want to Be Like You

Self-Regulation in the Development of the Social Self

Published Online:January 01, 2012https://doi.org/10.1027/1864-9335/a000090

Abstract

Entering a new group provides the potential of forming a new social identity. Starting from self-regulation models, we propose that goals (e.g., internal motivation to enter the group), strategies (e.g., approach and avoidance strategies), and events (e.g., the group’s response) affect the development of the social self. In two studies we manipulated the group’s response (acceptance vs. rejection) and assessed internal motivation as well as approach and avoidance strategies. It was expected, and we found, that when newcomers are accepted, their use of approach strategies (but not avoidance strategies) facilitates social identification. In line with self-completion theory, for highly internally motivated individuals approach strategies facilitated social identification even upon rejection. The results underline the active role of newcomers in their social identity development.

References

  • Aiken, L. S. , West, S. G. (1991). Multiple regression: Testing and interpreting interactions. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Allen, N. J. , Meyer, J. P. (1990). The measurement and antecedents of affective, continuance and normative commitment to the organization. Journal of Occupational Psychology, 63, 1–18. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Arbuckle, J. L. (2006). Amos (Version 7.0) [Computer program]. Chicago, IL: SPSS. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Avnet, T. , & Higgins, E. T. (2003). Locomotion, assessment, and regulatory fit: Value transfer from “how” to “what”. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 39, 525–530. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Barreto, M. , Ellemers, N. (2002). The impact of respect versus neglect of self-identities on identification and group loyalty. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 28, 629–639. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Berry, J. W. (1997). Immigration, acculturation, and adaptation. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 46, 5–68. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Berry, J. W. , Phinney, J. S. , Sam, D. L. , Vedder, P. (2006). Immigrant youth: Acculturation, identity, and adaptation. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 55, 303–332. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Bourhis, R. Y. , Moise, L. C. , Perreault, S. , Senécal, S. (1997). Toward an interactive acculturation model: A social psychological approach. International Journal of Psychology, 32, 369–386. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Brewer, M. B. (1991). The social self: On being the same and different at the same time. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 17, 475–482. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Brunstein, J. C. , Gollwitzer, P. M. (1996). Effects of failure on subsequent performance: The importance of self-defining goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70, 395–407. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Carver, C. S. (2004). Self-regulation of action and affect. In R. F. Baumeister, K. D. Vohs, (Eds.), Handbook of self-regulation: Research, theory, and applications (pp. 13–39). New York: Guilford. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Choi, H.-S. , Levine, J. M. (2004). Minority influence in work teams: The impact of newcomers. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 40, 273–280. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Cohen, J. , Cohen, P. , West, S. G. , Aiken, L. S. (2003). Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Deci, E. L. , Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11, 227–268. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Disney, W. (Producer), & Reitherman, W. (Director). (1967). The jungle book [Motion picture]. USA: Walt Disney Animation Studios. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Dweck, C. S. (1986). Motivational processes affecting learning. American Psychologist, 41, 1040–1048. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Ellemers, N. , Kortekaas, P. , Ouwerkerk, J. W. (1999). Self-categorization, commitment to the group, and group self-esteem as related but distinct aspects of social identity. European Journal of Social Psychology, 29, 371–389. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Elliot, A. J. (1999). Approach and avoidance motivation and achievement goals. Educational Psychologist, 34, 169–189. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Elliot, A. J. , Gable, S. L. , Mapes, R. R. (2006). Approach and avoidance motivation in the social domain. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 32, 378–391. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Elsbach, K. D. , Bhattacharya, C. B. (2001). Defining who you are by what you’re not: Organizational disidentification and the National Rifle Association. Organizational Science, 12, 393–413. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Fehr, J. , & Sassenberg, K. (2010). Willing and able: How internal motivation and failure help to overcome prejudice. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 13, 167–181. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Gable, S. L. (2006). Approach and avoidance social motives and goals. Journal of Personality, 74, 175–222. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Gable, S. L. , Strachman, A. (2008). Approaching social rewards and avoiding social punishments: Appetitive and aversive social motivation. In J. Y. Shah, W. L. Gardner, (Eds.), Handbook of motivation science (pp. 561–575). New York: Guilford. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Higgins, E. T. (1997). Beyond pleasure and pain. American Psychologist, 52, 1280–1300. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Higgins, E. T. (2006). Value from hedonic experiences and engagement. Psychological Review, 113, 439–460. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Hinkle, S. , Taylor, L. A. , Fox-Cardamone, D. L. (1989). Intragroup identification and intergroup differentiation: A multicomponent approach. British Journal of Social Psychology, 28, 305–317. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Hogg, M. A. (2007). Uncertainty-identity theory. In M. P. Zanna, (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 39, pp. 69–126). San Diego, CA: Elsevier Academic Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Hu, L.-T. , & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6, 1–55. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Jetten, J. , Branscombe, N. R. , Spears, R. , McKimmie, B. M. (2003). Predicting the path of peripherals: The interaction of identification and future possibilities. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 29, 130–140. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Kessler, T. , Hollbach, S. (2005). Group based emotion as determinants of ingroup identification. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 41, 677–685. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Kreiner, G. E. , Ashforth, B. E. (2004). Evidence toward an expanded model of organizational identification. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 25, 1–27. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Kruglanski, A. W. , Thompson, E. P. , Higgins, E. T. , Atash, M. N. , Pierro, A. , Shah, J. Y. , Spiegel, S. (2000). To “do the right thing” or to “just do it”: Locomotion and assessment as distinct self-regulatory imperatives. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79, 793–815. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Leary, M. R. (2005). Varieties of interpersonal rejection. In K. D. Williams, J. P. Forgas, B. von Hippel, (Eds.), The social outcast: Ostracism, social exclusion, rejection, and bullying (pp. 213–226). New York: Cambridge University Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Matschke, C. , Sassenberg, K. (2010a). Does rejection lead to disidentification? The role of internal motivation and avoidance strategies. European Journal of Social Psychology, 40, 891–900. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Matschke, C. , Sassenberg, K. (2010b). The supporting and impeding effects of group-related approach and avoidance strategies on newcomers’ psychological adaptation. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 34, 465–474. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Moreland, R. L. , Levine, J. M. (1982). Socialization in small groups: Temporal changes in individual-group relations. In L. Berkowitz, (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (pp. 137–192). New York: Academic Press. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Neuberg, S. L. , Newsom, J. T. (1993). Personal need for structure: Individual differences in the desire for simple structure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65, 113–131. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Piontkowski, U. , Florack, A. , Hoelker, P. , & Obdrzálek, P. (2000). Predicting acculturation attitudes of dominant and nondominant groups. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 24, 1–26. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Riketta, M. (2008). The causal relations between job attitudes and performance: A metaanalysis of panel studies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 93, 472–481. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Rink, F. A. , Ellemers, N. (2009). Temporary versus permanent group membership: How the future prospects of newcomers affect newcomer acceptance and newcomer influence. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 35, 764–775. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Sassenberg, K. , Hansen, N. (2007). The impact of regulatory focus on affective responses to social discrimination. European Journal of Social Psychology, 37, 421–444. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Sassenberg, K. , Kessler, T. , Mummendey, A. (2003). Less negative = more positive? Social discrimination as avoidance and approach. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 39, 48–58. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Sassenberg, K. , Matschke, C. (2010). When the others become part of the self. The impact of an exchange year on the self-concept. European Journal of Social Psychology, 40, 148–159. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Sassenberg, K. , Woltin, K.-A. (2008). Group-based self-regulation: The effects of regulatory focus. European Review of Social Psychology, 19, 126–164. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Sassenberg, K. , Woltin, K.-A. (2009). A self-regulation approach to group processes. In S. Otten, K. Sassenberg, T. Kessler, (Eds.), Intergroup relations – The role of motivation and emotion (pp. 101–120). London: Psychology Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Seibt, B. , & Förster, J. (2004). Stereotype threat and performance: How self-stereotypes influence processing by inducing regulatory foci. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 87, 38–56. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Shah, J. Y. , Kruglanski, A. W. , Thompson, E. P. (1998). Membership has its (epistemic) rewards: Need for closure effects on in-group bias. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 383–393. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Staufenbiel, T. , Hartz, C. (2000). Organizational citizenship behavior: Entwicklung und erste Validierung eines Messinstruments [Organizational citizenship behavior: Development and first validation of a measurement instrument]. Diagnostica, 46, 73–83. First citation in articleLink, Google Scholar

  • Strachman, A. , Gable, S. L. (2006). What you want (and do not want) affects what you see (and do not see): Avoidance social goals and social events. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 32, 1446–1458. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Tajfel, H. (1978). Social categorization, social identity and social comparison. In H. Tajfel, (Ed.), Differentiation between social groups (pp. 61–76). London, UK: Academic Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Tajfel, H. , & Turner, J. C. (1979). An integrative theory of intergroup conflict. In W. G. Austin, S. Worchel, (Eds.), The social psychology of intergroup relations (pp. 33–47). Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Turner, J. C. (1987). A self-categorization theory. In J. C. Turner, M. A. Hogg, P. J. Oakes, S. D. Reicher, M. S. Wetherell, (Eds.), Rediscovering the social group. A self-categorization theory (pp. 42–67). New York: Blackwell. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Verkuyten, M. , Yildiz, A. A. (2007). National (dis)identification and ethnic and religious identity: A study among Turkish-Dutch Muslims. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 33, 1448–1462. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Watson, D. , Clark, L. A. , Tellegen, A. (1988). Development and validation of a brief measure of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 1063–1070. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Wicklund, R. A. , Gollwitzer, P. M. (1982). Symbolic self-completion. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar