Study title

This data collection consists of experimental data collected at two time points. The objective of the current study was to explore the effect of self-affirmation on two aspects of performance that have been related to executive functioning: working memory (assessed by a 2-back task) and inhibition (assessed by a Stroop task). The goal was to establish whether self-affirmation improved performance on these tasks. Participants (N = 83) were randomized to either a self-affirmation or a control task and then completed the computerized tasks, in a fixed sequence. Results: Self-affirmed participants performed better than non-affirmed participants on both tasks. Conclusion: Self-affirmation can improve aspects of performance related to executive functioning. This finding may help to explain the wide range of beneficial effects that self-affirmation can have on cognition and behavior.

Self-affirmation has been shown to alter individuals’ reactions to a wide range of threats, yet comparatively little is known about its cognitive and affective consequences, especially in the immediate aftermath of self-affirmation. This project explored these effects and the role trait self-esteem in moderating them.