The Self-Reference Effect, Emotion, and Self-Esteem

Authors

• Analise McGreal, University of Central FloridaFollow

Mentor

Dr. Wei Wang

Abstract

This study examines the effect of emotionally-charged stimuli on surprise recall rates of self-referentially processed words. In a between-subjects experimental design, 101 undergraduate students from the University of Central Florida (UCF) were randomly assigned to one of three groups (positive words, negative words, or neutral words) and presented with a list of seven adjectives describing appearance (e.g. cute, appalling, tall); experimental procedures were carried out through the UCF Qualtrics online survey design platform. After self-referential processing, a significant difference between all three groups was demonstrated by completion of a one-way ANOVA, with recall rates decreasing from the neutral, to the positive, to the negative group, respectively. Self-Esteem and Contingencies of Self-Worth (CSW) scores for participants were also investigated as possible moderating variables, but no significant interaction effect was identified.

About the Author

Analise McGreal is a proud UCF alum who graduated in May 2015. At UCF, Analise was a member of the President's Leadership Council, Alpha Xi Delta Sorority, and the Burnett Honors College, while working extensively in research as the Head Research Assistant at UCF RESTORES. Analise now works as a Clinical Research Assistant at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, before pursuing medical school. Her current research interests include the comorbidity of PTSD, TBI, and other anxiety disorders

Recommended Citation

McGreal, Analise (2015) "The Self-Reference Effect, Emotion, and Self-Esteem," The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal: Vol. 8: Iss. 1, Article 6.
Available at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/urj/vol8/iss1/6