Explaining the self-regulatory role of affect in identity theory: The role of self-compassion.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

According to Stets and Burke's Identity Theory, people experience negative affect when their behaviour deviates from their identity standards, which drives the regulation of identity-relevant behaviour. Guilt and shame represent unique forms of negative affect. Self-compassion may influence guilt and shame responses about identity-behaviour inconsistencies. Relative to exercise identity, we examined the associations between (1) guilt and shame, behavioural intentions, and perceptions of identity-behaviour re-alignment after an identity-inconsistent situation and (2) whether self-compassion moderates the relationship between these forms of negative affect and both behavioural intentions and identity-behaviour re-alignment.

Design

Prospective, online, quantitative.<

SUBMITTER: Strachan SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11786238 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature