EFFECT OF SELF-AFFIRMATION THEORY TO SELF- CONCEPT
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Self-Affirmation Theory as a Catalyst of Change to the Self-Concept of Generation Z in the
Philippines
Janielle Dana Cebanico
Norman Dichos
Laureta Gabuco
Deoyce Rosario
Geanne Samson
National University - Manila
BS Psychology
Ms. Nora Almira Agpasa
June 21, 2021
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Abstract
Self-affirmation is defined as the recognition of the value of one’s individual self while
self-concept is how a person perceives oneself. The researchers selected 30 participants using a
quasi-experimental research design with qualifications of being part of Generation Z and a
Filipino citizen. The data are generated using the participants’ response to Robson Self Concept
Questionnaire (SCQ) that was used in pre-test and post-test procedures.
The researchers designed a 4-day plan to execute the procedure of the entire experiment.
On day 1, the participants were oriented and asked to fill out a consent form and the pretest
exam. On days 2 and 3, the experimental group was frequently reminded to self-affirm
themselves for at least 5 minutes 3 times a day, with a total of at least 18 minutes entirely. On the
last day, the experiment concluded with the participants answering the then-shuffled
questionnaire as a post-test.
The researchers hypothesized that there is a difference in self-concept between people
who practice self-affirmation and those who do not. The results of the experiment confirmed this
as a fact. The mean difference of the control group is -3.67 while the mean difference of the
experimental group is 12.60. This indicates the decline of self-concept in the control group and
increase in the experimental group after the treatment.
In conclusion, self-affirmation has a positive effect on the self-concept of generation Z in
the Philippines in line with the hypothesis of the researchers.
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Introduction
In the present, people have been exposed to a variety of negative emotions. Since the
pandemic, many were affected by it greatly - not only their social and financial state but also
their psychological well-being. Feelings of anger, emptiness, frustration, depression, and
loneliness are only a few of the range of the said negative emotions that are prevalent and seem
to be more common to their day-to-day life currently. It is becoming disturbing because
according to the statistics of Panchal et al (2021), there is a significant increase in the cases of
anxiety, depression, and even suicidal ideation. However, the circumstance is not the only factor
for this increase. As much as the environment can affect individuals in a lot of ways, the people
themselves are equally responsible for that outcome. More often than not, each individual has the
capability to divert the path and even dictate what they want and what they will become. As
observed in the current operation of our society, cynicism and despair have been typical parts of
one’s life. Although there are things that are worthy of pessimism, sometimes it is just the people
assuming things to be negative. If it is that easy to spread negativity, imagine what the world
could be if people spread optimism instead.
Self-affirmation is a well-known concept to represent this idea. In psychotherapy, it is a
notion where positive statements about the self are used and expressed on a regular basis to treat
or improve negative thinking and self-esteem (American Psychological Association, n.d.).
Instead of pointing out things one can’t do, it highlights the things one values and wants to
become. In this way, one can redefine oneself. This shows the power of words and how they can
substantially affect a person’s well-being and even self-concept. When an individual is saying
EFFECT OF SELF-AFFIRMATION THEORY TO SELF- CONCEPT
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statements that are not yet true at the moment, they are not necessarily lying to themselves. They
are just setting their mind into it because people can be whatever they want to be as long as they
put their heads to it. If they can train their minds enough, they can embody their own mindset
and even more.
This study aims to determine if Self-affirmation has an effect on the Self-Concept of
Generation Z in the Philippines; along with identifying the difference between the average
percentage of results from the pre-test and post-test of the Self-Concept test. The researchers
hypothesize a positive impact of practicing Self-affirmation Theory on one’s Self-Concept.
The article of Albalooshi, Moeini-Jazani, Fennis, and Warlop (2019) supports the
researchers’ hypothesis for it is indicated in their 3 studies that Self-affirmation demonstrated the
most effective impact on the self-esteem of what they call powerless because it manages their
inhibitory impairments. In addition, it further influenced the increase in self-view among the
participants, which also, in turn, improves their inhibitory control abilities. To second this notion
is Matthews’ (2015) study, he said in his thesis that self-affirmation is a human’s way of
self-enhancement through promoting self-esteem. It is elaborated using his three-way interaction
factorial design of (1) self-affirmation, (2) feedback from either success or failure, and (3) friend
versus college student rating. Results indicated that non-self-affirming participants scored
significantly lower than self-affirming participants despite having the same failure feedback from
friends and college students. Meaning to say, self-affirmation helps people to have a more
established self and to deal with criticism constructively.
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In an objective and systematic review of Mcqueen and Klein (2006), they examined 47
eligible articles and the manipulations applied in each; along with the difference in
characteristics, categories, and effects on various dependent variables. The manipulations being
studied varied by affirmation domain (values or personal characteristics), attainment (participantor investigator-identified), and procedure (scale, essay, feedback, etc.). They collated several
dependent variables but they concluded that Self-affirmation has a strong effect on attitudes and
persuasion/bias. The researchers take their recommendation to explore more on the subject.
Self-affirming oneself is not a myth for it has a neurological explanation. According to
the study of Cascio, O’Donnell, Tinney, Lieberman, Taylor, Stretcher, and Falk (2016), when
someone self-affirms there will be an increase of brain activity in regions of self-processing and
valuation systems. Moreover, successful affirmations tend to change not only the daily
perception of an individual but also the future orientation. With that said, not only it balances the
negative and positive attitudes of a person but it also changes their self-concept and the way they
view the future.
On the other hand, when one, especially those people who have low self-esteem, does not
do anything near to self-affirming, they become more vulnerable to self-threat which increases
their schadenfreude (Dijk, Koningsbruggen, Ouwerkerk & Wesseling, 2011). Schadenfreude is
defined as the feeling of pleasure when someone witnesses another person’s misfortunes. The
study further explained that when people don’t self-affirm, they find schandenfreude a helpful
coping mechanism to feel good about themselves, enhance their self-views and lessen the
self-threat. The study of Critcher and Dunning (2014) supports this notion for they see
EFFECT OF SELF-AFFIRMATION THEORY TO SELF- CONCEPT
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self-affirmation as a constructive way to relieve threat and defensiveness. If a person has
established himself using the improvements he developed in his mentality and perception, he is
less likely to be affected by unreasonable criticism of other people; hence being not a threat to
his own self-destruction and not being defensive about it as well. Therefore, self-affirmation does
not only prove to be useful in imparting good influence to self-concept but is also functional in
bringing about a healthy defense mechanism.
The researchers find this study to be significant because of 4 main reasons. First, it will
encourage people to be open to trying self-affirmation since most still find it absurd and
ineffective. Second, since this paper will indicate steps on how to execute self-affirmation
practices, it will benefit those who want to try it on their own, to grasp the importance of doing it
frequently, and to have an opportunity to change their self-concept for the better (Main &
Dillard, 2012). Third, the researchers hope that professionals would include self-affirmation
theory in more cases in therapy and study more on this subject because it has been proven to be
effective a number of times in enhancing psychological well-being. Furthermore, self-affirmation
has not only been useful in improving one’s self-view but also in developing a more
comprehensive executive functioning (Harris, Harris & Miles, 2016) and in increasing
self-compassion and pro-social behaviors (Lindsay & Creswell, 2014)
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Method
Participants
The researchers selected 30 participants using the Purposive and Convenience Sampling
Method. To qualify, the participant must belong to Generation Z which includes years of birth
from 1997 to 2012. They should also be Filipinos to be included in this study. Before being part
of the experiment, the participants filled out a consent form (Appendix A) along with the
demographic profile (Appendix D) containing information such as their email, name, age,
gender, and school/university as part of the main questionnaire (Appendix B) used for pre-test
and post-test. There is no gender and educational attainment preference in this study.
Since the research design is quasi-experimental, there is no random assignment of
participants. However, control groups and active manipulation of the independent variables are
utilized in this experiment. The researchers placed participants between control or experimental
groups by identifying who are more likely to practice self-affirmation for two consecutive days
willingly.
Materials
This study gathered primary measures or new information which are directly collected
from the present time. The data are generated using the participants’ response to Robson Self
Concept Questionnaire (SCQ) that was used in pre-test and post-test procedures. Robson SCQ is
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a 30-item test for assessing one’s self-concept. The questionnaire deals with the current attitudes
and beliefs of people about themselves. The participants are asked to rate how much they agree
or disagree with each statement; ranging from completely agree to completely disagree.
It is an established test with an internal consistency of 0.94 to 0.97 and Cronbach Alpha
of 0.89. Furthermore, Robson SCQ is high in criterion validity because it has a strong correlation
with the Rosenberg Scale of Self-Esteem, which also measures the same thing under the notion
of self-perception. To ensure that the respondents are reading every statement, 16 out of 30 are
reversed from the typical sentence construction. Taking into account its psychometric properties,
Robson SCQ is a valid and reliable instrument to assess self-concept and self-esteem as well as
the general population (Ghaderi, 2006).
Procedure
The data collection method used is an experiment, where an independent variable is
manipulated to measure its effect on the dependent variable and to test the causal relationship
between them. Moreover, pre-test post-test design is also utilized in the experiment. Before
applying the treatment and condition, the participants first took Robson SCQ to measure their
current self-concept. After the experimental group underwent 2 consecutive days of
self-affirmation, they took Robson SCQ again to determine if there is a significant change in
self-concept. To prevent the participants from identifying the same questionnaire, the questions
are shuffled on the post-test form.
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As mentioned above, the research design is Quasi-Experimental. Although it has
concerns regarding internal validity because the treatment and control groups may not be
comparable at baseline for not executing the random assignment, the researchers devised
different measures that will be further explained in the latter part of this paper, to limit if not
completely eliminate extraneous and even confounding variables. Despite having low internal
validity, quasi-experimental design has high external validity for it includes natural variables in
the environment. In this case, the study has a higher possibility of being generalized to the
general population (Quasi-experiment, 2021).
The researchers designed a 4-day plan to execute the procedure of the entire experiment.
On day 1, the participants were oriented through an online video presentation. In order to keep
giving consistent information, the researchers played a recorded video to both groups. Since the
control group would not receive any treatment, the video that is presented to them is much
shorter and only pertaining to the pre- and post-test. The video shown to the experimental group,
on the other hand, is much detailed for it includes the step-by-step procedure of brainstorming,
writing, and practicing self-affirmation (Appendix C). After the said video, every participant was
asked to fill out a consent form and the pretest exam. On days 2 and 3, the experimental group
was frequently reminded to self-affirm themselves for at least 5 minutes 3 times a day, with a
total of at least 18 minutes entirely. On the last day, the experiment concluded with the
participants answering the then-shuffled questionnaire as a post-test.
The statistical analyses used in this experiment are Paired T-test and Independent T-Test.
Since pre-test and post-test data have the same sample, the researchers used Paired T-Test to
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identify if there is a difference in scores in pre-test and post-test in both control and experimental
groups. While Independent T-test is used to gauge the effect of the independent variable
(self-affirmation) on the dependent variable (self-concept) by comparing the difference in scores
of control and experimental groups.
Operational Definitions of Independent and Dependent Variables
In this study, the independent variable is self-affirmation while the dependent variable is
self-concept. Indicated below the operational definition for both variables.
Experimental Operational Definitions
Treatment A:
A group of 15 participants took a test to measure their Self-Concept before the
experiment. Then they practiced self-affirmation exercises for two consecutive days.
After the said period, their self-concept was measured again.
Treatment B:
Another group of 15 participants took a test to measure their Self-Concept before
the experiment. Then they did not practice self-affirmation exercises as compared to the
previous group and just continued on with their daily functions in life. After the said
period, their self-Concept was measured again as well.
Measured Operational Definitions
With Self-Affirmation:
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The experimental group underwent 2 consecutive days of self-affirmation
practices.
Without Self-Affirmation:
The control group did not execute change in their daily function but strictly
without self-affirmation practices
Positive Self-Concept:
The participants’ self-concept change positively
Indifferent Self-Concept:
There is no significant change from the first time self-concept was measured.
Negative Self-Concept:
The participants’ self-concept change negatively
Extraneous Variables
One of the nature of Quasi-Experimental Research Design is not requiring random
assignment. The experiment has a 4-day planned procedure, meaning to say, it consumed more
than just a few minutes of the participants’ time. In order to be certain that the participants still
did the self-affirmation practices, the researchers picked the most willing ones and placed them
in the experimental group. They were also reminded hours before they are supposed to do the
self-affirmation session so they would not forget. In addition, the cameras of the participants
were on during the orientation period to ensure that they were listening and to keep track of their
reactions toward the procedure as well.
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Furthermore, researchers used the same questionnaire, which is Robson SCQ, for both
pre-test and post-test. To avoid the participants being familiarized with the question, they were
shuffled the second time around they took it. And since the questionnaire has high internal
validity and consistency, it should not affect the integrity of the generated results.
The restriction method is also used to provide limitations from accepting samples from
the population. The participants must belong in the Generation Z age range and must be Filipino,
as stated in the previous section of this paper.
Research Design
In order to determine the effect of Self-affirmation to change one's Self-concept, the
researchers designed a comprehensive methodology to manage variables and measure them
accordingly, using a quasi-experimental research design. Therefore, in this study, the independent
variables are manipulated to identify their impact on the dependent variable without requiring
random assignment of the participants.
Furthermore, between-subjects design is used in terms of the participants. Control and
experimental groups are composed of two different set of people that still belongs to the target
sample. Both groups underwent two different treatments after measuring their self-concept the
second way around.
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Results
Demographics
Table 1
Summary of Participants
Table 1 shows the summary of participants’ demographics. Since the population of the
study belongs to Generation Z, the sample is composed of 30 participants (100%) who are born
from 1997 to 2012. The age range is divided into two with 5 participants (16.67%) aging 15 - 19
and 25 participants (83.33%) aging 20 - 24. The researchers have no preference regarding gender
so the division is unintended, which is 7 male (23.33%) and 23 female (76.67%) participants 30
participants in total.
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Table 2
Participants of Control Group
Table 2 presents the control group participants’ demographics. The control group did not
receive any treatment; hence there is no self-affirmation activity for two consecutive days. Since
the population of the study belongs to Generation Z, the sample is composed of 15 participants
(100%) who are born from 1997 to 2012. The age range is divided into two with 4 participants
(26.67%) aging 15 - 19 and 11 participants (73.33%) aging 20 - 24. The researchers have no
preference regarding gender so the division is unintended, which is 3 male (20.00%) and 12
female (80.00%) participants with 15 participants in total.
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Table 3
Experimental Group
Table 3 exhibits the experimental group participants’ demographics. The experimental
group received treatment; hence there are self-affirmation activities for them for two consecutive
days. Since the population of the study belongs to Generation Z, the sample is composed of 15
participants (100%) who are born from 1997 to 2012. The age range is divided into two with 1
participant (6.67%) aging 15 - 19 and 14 participants (93.33) aging 20 - 24. The researchers have
no preference regarding gender so the division is unintended, which is 4 male (26.27%) and 11
female (73.33%) participants with 15 participants in total.
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Paired t-Test of Pre-Tests and Post-Tests
Table 4
Paired Samples Statistics of the Control Group
Table 4 shows the Paired Samples Statistics of the Control Group, where the pre-test and
post-test data came from. The 15 participants took the same questionnaire (Robson SCQ) twice;
their pre-test results have a mean of 81.73, a standard deviation of 11.30, and a standard error
mean of 2.91, while their pre-test results have a mean of 78.06, a standard deviation of 10.94 and
a standard error mean of 2.82. As the table suggests, the mean and standard deviation scores of
both conditions are similarly dispersed. Since the smaller the standard error, the less the spread
and the more likely it is that the mean sample is close to the population mean, the means for this
group can be generalized.
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Table 5
Paired Sample Test for Control Group
Table 5 presents the Paired Samples Test of the Control Group. Results show that the
difference between pre-test and post-test scores is significant with a t-value of 3.47 and a
significance value of .004. T-value expresses the difference between two conditions; hence, 3.47
represents the difference between the first and second time the participants took the test. Since
the p-value is smaller than or equal to 0.05, the value of t is significant. Therefore, the null
hypothesis must be rejected in favor of the experimental hypothesis. Meaning to say, if there are
no constant self-affirmation exercises, then it will negatively affect one’s self-concept.
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Table 6
Paired Samples Statistics of the Experimental Group
Table 6 shows the Paired Samples Statistics of the Experimental Group, where the
pre-test and post-test data came from. The 15 participants took the same questionnaire (Robson
SCQ) twice; their pre-test results have a mean of 75.93, a standard deviation of 10.91, and a
standard error mean of 2.82, while their pre-test results have a mean of 88.53, a standard
deviation of 11. 17 and a standard error mean of 2.88. As the table suggests, the mean and
standard deviation scores of both conditions are similarly dispersed. Since the smaller the
standard error, the less the spread and the more likely it is that the mean sample is close to the
population mean, the means for this group can be generalized.
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Table 7
Paired Sample Test for Experimental Group
Table 7 presents the Paired Samples Test of the Experimental Group. Results show that
the difference between pre-test and post-test scores is significant with a t-value of -6.49 and a
significance value of .000. T-value expresses the difference between two conditions; hence, -6.49
represents the difference between the first and second time the participants took the test. Since
the p-value is smaller than or equal to 0.05, the value of t is significant. Therefore, the null
hypothesis must be rejected in favor of the experimental hypothesis. Meaning to say, constant
self-affirmation exercises positively affects one’s self-concept.
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Independent t-Test
Table 8
Group Statistics of the Difference between Pre-Test and Post-Test Data of Control and
Experimental Groups
Table 8 shows the group statistics of the difference between pre-test and post-test data of
control and experimental groups. The control group has a mean of -3.67 with a standard
deviation of 4.08 and a standard error mean of 1.05. The negative means that the self-concept of
the participants who did not perform any self-affirmation exercise declined. The experimental
group, on the other hand, has a mean of 12.60 with a standard deviation of 7.52 and a standard
error mean of 1.94.
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Table 9
Independent Sample Test of the Difference between Pre-Test and Post-Test Data of Control and
Experimental Groups
Table 9 represents the independent sample test of the difference between pre-test and
post-test data of control and experimental groups. Since both of the significance values in
Levene’s Test and t-test are less than 0.05, the researchers will reject the null and conclude that
the difference is significant between the pre-test and post-test of control and experimental
groups.
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Discussion
The objective of the study is to determine if self-affirmation has an effect on the
self-concept of Generation Z in the Philippines. The researchers used a quasi-experimental
research design to acquire necessary information. Since it does not require a random assignment,
the researchers chose according to the availability and willingness of the participants to make
sure that they would cooperate with the said instructions. They are then separated equally
between 2 groups - control and experimental groups. The researchers hypothesized that there is
a difference in self-concept between people who practice self-affirmation and those who do not.
The results of the experiment confirmed this as a fact.
According to the paired t-test of the control group, there is a significant difference
(p-value = .004) between the pre-test and post-test scores, and the null hypothesis must be
rejected. The researchers expected that since they are controlled, there would not be any
difference but the means (pre-test = 81.73, post-test = 78.06) suggest the decline in self-concept
after the participants were hindered to practice self-affirmation. Meaning to say, not practicing
self-affirmation does not only give anything positive but also intensifies the negative effects on
one’s self-concept. This conclusion is similar to the conclusion of Dijk, Koningsbruggen,
Ouwerkerk, and Wesseling in their study (2011), saying that those people who are not
self-affirming develop low- self-esteem over time and become more vulnerable to self-threat
which increases their schandenfreude or feeling of pleasure when someone witnesses another
person’s misfortunes.
On the other hand, according to the paired t-test of the experimental group, there is also a
significant difference (p-value = .000) between the pre-test and post-test scores and the null
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hypothesis must be rejected. The researchers expected this since self-affirmation instills an
optimistic view of oneself and therefore reflects the positive self-concept through its increase
(pre-test = 75.93, post-test = 88.53). Meaning to say, after self-affirming the participants started
to have a more established and optimistic self-concept. The article of Albalooshi, Moeini-Jazani,
Fennis, and Warlop (2019) supports the researchers’ hypothesis and results for this matter. In
their study, self-affirmation demonstrated the most effective impact on the self-esteem of what
they call powerless because it manages their inhibitory impairments. In addition, it further
influenced the increase in self-view among the participants, which also, in turn, improves their
inhibitory control abilities.
In line with the two previous tests, the results of when independent t-test is used to
compare the difference of pre-test and post-test of control and experimental groups are
significant too (p-value = .000). The mean difference of the control group is -3.67 while the
mean difference of the experimental group is 12.60. This indicates the decline of self-concept in
the control group and increases in the experimental group after the treatment. Since all of the
standard error mean in all of the tests are small enough (1.05, 1.94 & 2.21), the differences
between variables and treatments can be generalized. In conclusion, self-affirmation has a
positive effect on the self-concept of generation Z in the Philippines in line with the hypothesis
of the researchers. It is then true that practicing self-affirmation may change self-concept into a
positive one.
For the future researchers who are having the idea of doing a more thorough and deep
investigation about this topic, the researchers suggest that they should have more time in
conducting this kind of experiment. The longer the days for the experimental group to do the
self-affirmation practice, the more it will show how it can affect the participants’ perception of
EFFECT OF SELF-AFFIRMATION THEORY TO SELF- CONCEPT
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themselves. In that case, the results of the experiment will be much more solid and established.
And thus be declared of its wide significance and affect people in a positive way. In addition,
future researchers can also add more manipulation towards the participants. Because of the
nature of the research design, the researchers are compelled to do anything beyond ethical and
against the will of the participants. Therefore if there could be a study to explore more on the
manipulation to ensure the effectiveness of self-affirmation, then it might show more significant
results. Moreover, the experiment may be more efficient if practicing self-affirmation will be
done in a face-to-face scenario. Because in a virtual set-up, the researchers are not certain if the
participants really practice self-affirmation for it is possible for them to make cover stories when
they are not monitored from time to time. The only thing the researchers can do is to remind
them and ask if they already finished the task. Unlike face-to-face scenarios, the future
researchers can make a schedule for the participants to know when they can start practicing
self-affirmation with the researchers to monitor them. Expanding the scope of participants is also
one way to examine more into this subject. The researchers only focus on Generation Z, so
others can divert the attention to other generations or groups of people in general. Another way is
to change either the dependent or independent variable. They can investigate what other factors
can affect self-concept and what other aspects can be affected by self-affirmation.
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Mcqueen, A. & Klein, W. (2006, Oct). Experimental Manipulations of Self-Affirmation: A
Systematic Review. Research Gate.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247516776_Experimental_manipulations_of_se
lf-affirmation_A_systematic_review.
Panchal, N., Kamal, R., Cox, C. & Garfield, R. (2021, Feb 10). The Implication of COVID-19
for Mental Health and Substance Use. KFF.
https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for-m
ental-health-and-substance-use/.
Quasi-experiment. (2021, Apr 9). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quasi-experiment.
EFFECT OF SELF-AFFIRMATION THEORY TO SELF- CONCEPT
28
Appendix A: Consent Form
This form signifies that you express your consent to take part in the experiment and to
allow us to utilize the data we can generate from this study. On our end, we assure you that your
name and any identification would be anonymized to follow the confidentiality agreement. By
acknowledging this form, you are declaring that you will respond to the tests with sufficient
knowledge and comprehension.
EFFECT OF SELF-AFFIRMATION THEORY TO SELF- CONCEPT
29
Appendix B: Self-Concept Test
This questionnaire deals with attitudes and beliefs which some people have about
themselves. Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each statement by ringing the
single number in each section which represents how you typically feel most of the time. Since
people vary so much in the opinions they hold, there are no right or wrong answers.
Robson SCQ
Completely Disagree
Disagree
Agree
Completely
Agree
1.
I have control over my own life.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
2.
I’m easy to like.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
3.
I never feel down in the dumps for
very long.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
4:
I can never seem to achieve anything
worthwhile.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
5:
There are lots of things I’d change
about myself if I could.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
6.
I am not embarrassed to let people
know my opinions.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
7:
I don’t care what happens to me.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
EFFECT OF SELF-AFFIRMATION THEORY TO SELF- CONCEPT
30
8:
I seem to be very unlucky.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9.
Most people find me reasonably
attractive.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
10.
I’m glad I’m who I am.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
11:
Most people would take advantage of
me if they could.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
12.
I am a reliable person.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
13: It would be boring if I talked about
myself.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
14: When I’m successful, there’s usually
a lot of luck involved.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
15.
I have a pleasant personality.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
16.
If a task is difficult, that just makes
me all the more determined.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
17: I often feel humiliated.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
18.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
I can usually make up my mind and
stick to it.
EFFECT OF SELF-AFFIRMATION THEORY TO SELF- CONCEPT
31
19: Everyone else seems much more
confident and contented than me.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
20: Even when I quite enjoy myself, there
doesn’t seem many purposes to it all.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
21: I often worry about what other people
are thinking about me.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
22: There’s a lot of truth in the saying
“What will be, will be”.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
23: I look awful these days.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
24.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
25: It’s pretty tough to be me.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
26.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
27: When people criticize me, I often feel
helpless and second-rate.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
28: When progress is difficult, I often find
myself thinking
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
If I really try, I can overcome most of
my problems.
I feel emotionally mature.
it’s just not worth the effort.
EFFECT OF SELF-AFFIRMATION THEORY TO SELF- CONCEPT
32
29.
I can like myself even when others
don’t.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
30.
Those who know me well are fond of
me.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Please check that you have responded to every statement
Scores on the Robson SCQ
NB You do not have to score the Robson yourself (or any of the others) — the database
has an automatic scoring system, and experience in the pilot was that there is a high rate of
human error in scoring this particular questionnaire! The information below is for those who are
interested only.
Scoring
Some items are scored as printed, others are reversed.
The 14 ‘normal’ items (Qu 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 12, 15, 16, 18, 24, 26, 29, 30) have a full stop
after the question number (e.g. 2.) — scoring for these is taken straight off the scale as printed.
The 16 ‘reversed’ items (Qu 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 27, 28) have
a colon after the question number (e.g. 4:) — scoring is reversed for these (i.e. 0 = 7, 1 = 6 etc).
Add up the numbers obtained like this to get the total score.
EFFECT OF SELF-AFFIRMATION THEORY TO SELF- CONCEPT
33
Norms
Reference group
Mean total score
S.D.
70 controls with “...no evidence of psychological
disorder...”
137.0
20.2
51 patients with DSM-III GAD
108.0
24.8
99.8
24.0
140.0
19.8
225 women from a random community sample (those who
did not report CSA)
147.4
25.8
252 women from a random community sample (those who
did report CSA)
138.8
29.6
From Robson (1989):
47 consecutive referrals to Psychotherapy Dept
From Robson (personal communication)
200 controls
From Romans, Martin & Mullen (1996) [New Zealand
sample]:
Pooling the Robson control samples gives an estimate for the ‘normal’ mean in British samples =
139.2 (SD=19.9); so to simplify a bit for routine clinical use we take it as mean = 140, SD = 20.
EFFECT OF SELF-AFFIRMATION THEORY TO SELF- CONCEPT
34
Appendix C: Video Transcript
Control Group
Hi Everyone! Good day to you all. Before we start, I just want to thank you for letting us
take some of your time for our experiment. We deeply appreciate it and we all owe you one.
Allow me to introduce us and our research. We are 2nd-year Psychology Majors from
National University-Manila. This project is for the completion of our requirements in the course
of Experimental Psychology. The following names are my co-researchers whom you can ask
anytime if anything comes up.
Prior to the experiment proper, we would like to request you to fill out a consent form
that will be given after this session. There, it is indicated that you express your consent to take
part in the experiment and to utilize the data that we will generate before and after this project.
Although, we assure you that your name and any identification would be anonymized to follow
the confidentiality agreement.
Basically, here is the timeline. Today, June 16, Wednesday, is the orientation period and
also when you will answer the pre-test, which will be given after this session as well. Then on
June 19, Saturday, you will take the post-test.
That’s basically it
After you agree on the consent form, the facilitator will send another form for our
pre-test. Kindly answer it after this video presentation or within this day at least.
EFFECT OF SELF-AFFIRMATION THEORY TO SELF- CONCEPT
35
Should you need a copy of this video, just let us know and we will send you one.
Nonetheless, we are always available if you have further questions regarding the study.
Again, we thank you for participating. Take care and have a great day ahead!
Experimental Group
Hi Everyone! Good day to you all. Before we start, I just want to thank you for letting us
take some of your time for our experiment. We deeply appreciate it and we all owe you one.
Allow me to introduce us and our research. We are 2nd-year Psychology Majors from
National University-Manila. This project is for the completion of our requirements in the course
of Experimental Psychology. The following names are my co-researchers whom you can ask
anytime if anything comes up.
Prior to the experiment proper, we would like to request you to fill out a consent form
that will be given after this session. There, it is indicated that you express your consent to take
part in the experiment and to utilize the data that we will generate before and after this project.
Although, we assure you that your name and any identification would be anonymized to follow
the confidentiality agreement.
Basically, here is the timeline. Today, June 16, Wednesday, is the orientation period and
also when you will answer the pre-test, which will be given after this session as well. And for
two consecutive days after that, June 17 and 18, you will have to perform a certain activity which
will be discussed further in this video. Then on June 19, Saturday, you will take the post-test.
EFFECT OF SELF-AFFIRMATION THEORY TO SELF- CONCEPT
36
For the sake of protecting the validity and integrity of the study, we would not disclose
every single detail of the experiment. However, we will supply you with the information you
need from us. So if you want to know more, we would gladly fill you in after you answer your
post-test.
This presentation has 3 parts. Brainstorming, Writing, and Practicing Self-Affirmation.
And we will guide you through each section.
Brainstorming the Statements
1. Make a list of what you've always thought of as your negative qualities.
-
Recognize them, make them known. If you repress them, the more they affect you
unconsciously. Include any criticisms others have given you that you've been
holding onto. Simply make a note of them and look for a common theme.
2. Transform it into a positive statement.
-
If your negative qualities highlight themes like “I’m unworthy” or “I’m not
enough,” then just remove the negative attachments on them. So your statements
can be “I’m worthy” and “I’m enough”
-
Side note: you can have as many statements as you can think of, but you must
have at least one.
3.
Emphasize personal attributes and successes
-
Instead of affirming something that you aren’t, which might cause your brain to
focus on what it perceives as a lack in your character, try emphasizing the great
qualities you already have and the accomplishments you’ve already achieved. For
instance, do you wish that you had more patience? Or deeper relationships with
EFFECT OF SELF-AFFIRMATION THEORY TO SELF- CONCEPT
37
your friends and colleagues? Or would you like a more productive workday?
Write down several areas or behaviors that you'd like to work on. Be sure that
they are compatible with your core values and the things that most matter to you,
so that you'll feel genuinely motivated to achieve them.
4.
Be sure that your affirmations are credible and achievable.
-
Think inward. You change yourself and not the environment. Base it on a realistic
assessment of the facts. For instance, imagine that you're unhappy with the grades
you received the last term and want them to change now. You could use
affirmations to raise your diligence and motivation to study more frequently than
usual. Keep it realistic! After all, affirmations are not magic spells – if you can't
believe in them, it's unlikely they'll impact your life.
Writing the Statements
1. Write your affirmation in the present tense.
-
Write and speak your affirmation as if it's already happening. This helps you to
believe that the statement is true right now. For instance, "I am well-prepared and
well-rehearsed, and I can give a great presentation" would be a great affirmation
to use if you feel nervous speaking in front of a group. Enter the “now.” Take the
condition you desire and declare it to be already true.
2. Refine your affirmations
-
You may want to use a thesaurus to find more powerful words to beef up your
statement. The more they resonate with you, the more it will work for you. For
example, instead of saying, "I'm worthy," you could say, "I'm remarkable and
EFFECT OF SELF-AFFIRMATION THEORY TO SELF- CONCEPT
38
cherished." After you have written your affirmation, ask a close friend to read it to
see if they have any suggestions for how to make it stronger.
-
Side note again: if you need any assistance in this section, we are more than
happy to help you out.
3. Be concise
-
Shorter is better. Affirmations with fewer words are often easier to recall,
especially in situations when you feel some stress. Rhyming makes your
affirmations even more memorable. Even statements as short as four or five words
can be powerful.
4. Start your affirmations with “I” or “My”
-
Because you’re making a statement about yourself, it’s most effective if it starts
with you. “I choose to be positive” is much better than “Positive thoughts are
coming into my mind.”
5. Don’t begin your affirmations with “I want” or “I need.”
-
You don’t want to affirm that you’re wanting and needing. Rather, write your
affirmations as an expression of being grateful for already having and being what
you want.
Practicing Self-Affirmation
1. Take three deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling to a count of 10.
2. Stand in front of a mirror and look yourself in the eyes. Smile, if it feels natural.
3. Say your affirmations slowly and clearly. You can have an actual list with you if you have
more than what you can memorize.
4. Say it with feeling and conviction.
EFFECT OF SELF-AFFIRMATION THEORY TO SELF- CONCEPT
-
39
Affirmations can be more effective when they carry emotional weight. You need
to want this change to happen, so every affirmation that you choose to repeat
should be a phrase that's meaningful to you. Focus on the affirmation that you’ve
put time into creating for yourself, and each time you practice, it will feel more
natural.
5. Speak the affirmation out loud for about five minutes three times a day, morning, midday,
and evening.
-
The first is when you wake up, the second is any time of the day and the third is
before you go to bed. Just keep in mind that every session should be at least 5
minutes.
-
We will remind you every time so you won’t forget.
6. To end the affirmation, take another three deep breaths, allowing your body to absorb the
positive feeling of the affirmation(s).
That’s basically it
After you agree on the consent form, the facilitator will send another form for our
pre-test. Kindly answer it after this video presentation or within this day at least.
Should you need a copy of this video, just let us know and we will send you one.
Nonetheless, we are always available if you have further questions regarding the study.
Again, we thank you for participating. Take care and have a great day ahead!
EFFECT OF SELF-AFFIRMATION THEORY TO SELF- CONCEPT
Appendix D: Raw Data
Control Group Raw Data
Experimental Group Raw Data
40
EFFECT OF SELF-AFFIRMATION THEORY TO SELF- CONCEPT
41
EFFECT OF SELF-AFFIRMATION THEORY TO SELF- CONCEPT
Tables and Figures
Table 1
Summary of Participants
Table 2
Participants of Control Group
42
EFFECT OF SELF-AFFIRMATION THEORY TO SELF- CONCEPT
Table 3
Participants of Control Group
Table 4
Paired Samples Statistics of the Control Group
Table 5
Paired Sample Test for Control Group
43
EFFECT OF SELF-AFFIRMATION THEORY TO SELF- CONCEPT
Table 6
Paired Samples Statistics of the Experimental Group
Table 7
Paired Samples Test for Experimental Group
44
EFFECT OF SELF-AFFIRMATION THEORY TO SELF- CONCEPT
45
Table 8
Group Statistics of the Difference between Pre-Test and Post-Test Data of Control and
Experimental Groups
Table 9
Independent Sample Test of the Difference between Pre-Test and Post-Test Data of Control and
Experimental Groups