Research Symposium
25th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, April 1, 2025
Tai'Mir Mitchell Poster Session 3: 1:45 pm - 2:45 pm/ Poster #224
BIO
Tai'Mir Mitchell, originally from Miami, FL, is studying psychology with a minor in social work at FSU. Upon completing her bachelor's degree, she is committed to pursuing a master's degree in social work. Her objective is to leverage her involvement in the Motivated Social Cognition Lab to enhance her comprehension of research methodologies and interpersonal dynamics. Engaging in this lab, she aspires to cultivate academic and professional insights that can be directly applied to her future pursuits. She is enthusiastic about delving deeper into the realm of research and contributing meaningfully to the field of psychology.
Exploring Gender Differences in Engagement with Self-Transcendent and Self-Enhancement Value Affirmation Interventions
Authors: Tai'Mir Mitchell, Irmak Olcaysoy OktenStudent Major: Psychology
Mentor: Irmak Olcaysoy Okten
Mentor's Department: Psychology Mentor's College: College of Arts and Science Co-Presenters: Shabely Fernandez
Abstract
Value affirmation exercises aim to reduce defensive responses through reflection of closely held values. However, little work has explored how individuals differ in the types of values they affirm and their level of personal engagement with the intervention. Following Burson et al. (2012), this study investigates self-enhancement (SE) and self-transcendent (ST) values. SE values prioritize personal gains like achievement, power, and status, while ST values prioritize the welfare of others over personal gain. This study specifically explores gender differences in using SE and ST themes and personal engagement in value-affirmation tasks. Participants' written responses in value affirmation and control conditions (writing about a daily routine) were coded for the presence of SE and ST themes and level of personal engagement in terms of usage of personal experiences and elaboration of key points. Overall, this study examines gender differences in value affirmation engagement, attempting to reveal individual differences in the intervention’s effectiveness.
Key words: value affirmation, self-transcendent, self-enhancement, personal engagement, gender
Keywords: Psychology, Value affirmation, self-transcendent, self-enhancement, personal engagement, gender