Self-discrepancies represent a gap between people’s different
selves and evoke negative emotions (Higgins, 1987). In this
research project, in agreement with Higgins’ theory, we
hypothesized that participants’ actual-self vs. ideal-self
discrepancies are primarily related to dejection emotions. We
conducted an experimental study where we used explicit
measures. After identifying an ideal-self discrepant quality by
administering self-report questionnaires in which participants
rated themselves on their actual personality attributes and on
their ideal qualities, two weeks later we assigned each
participant a schematic self-discrepant quality and ask to
describe situations in which s/he wished s/he met his/her ideal
standard but s/he didn’t (positive discrepancy condition or
achieving direction), or to describe a situation in which s/he
met right the contrary of his/her ideal standard (negative
discrepancy condition or avoidance direction). Via a priming
task, we aimed at activating such ideal self-schemata, before
asking participants in experimental conditions to rate current
emotional states along POMS items (Spielberger, 2012). We
expected to observe higher mean scores on POMS Depression
scale when participants were exposed to the actual/ideal
priming conditions, in comparison to the control-group
participants, who only rated their current emotional states on
POMS. Preliminary findings cautiously suggest that
discrepancies require to be assessed in a more clear and
accurate way in order to relate to specific emotions, by taking
into account the role of positive discrepancy condition
(achieving direction) and negative discrepancy condition
(avoidance direction) as well.
