Effects of reflective processes on social-emotional trait development in adulthood: insights from two multi-method studies
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 exam...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
February 2026
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| In: |
Journal of personality
Year: 2026, Volume: 94, Issue: 1, Pages: 60-80 |
| ISSN: | 1467-6494 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/jopy.13016 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.13016 Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jopy.13016 
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| Author Notes: | Gabriela Küchler, Kira S. A. Borgdorf, Corina Aguilar-Raab, Cornelia Wrzus |
| Summary: | 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. |
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| Item Description: | Online veröffentlicht: 6. März 2025 Gesehen am 10.07.2025 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 1467-6494 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/jopy.13016 |