Should We Really Be Afraid of "Weakness"? Applying the Insights of Attribution Theory.

ABSTRACT: It is widely assumed that the term "weakness" has negative psychological effects and should be replaced by "area for improvement." The present study is the first to examine the matter experimentally. It was hypothesised that effects of "weakness" (vs. "area for improvement") are most pronounced in those with low perceived self-efficacy in the relevant domain. Two experiments were conducted in the domain of self-regulation. In those with low perceived self-efficacy for self-regulation (PSESR), "weakness" apparently had a negative indirect effect on improvement expectancy by increasing the perceived stability (Experiment 1) or lowering the perceived controllability (Experiment 2) of the problem. Moreover, at low levels of PSESR in Experiment 2, estimated indirect effects of "weakness" on per

SUBMITTER: Abdulla A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12717299 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature