Andrew G Christy
Biographic Data
| ID | 4231739 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Andrew G Christy |
| GIVEN NAMES | Andrew G |
| FAMILY NAME | Christy |
| SIGNATURE | CHRISTY A G |
| AFFILIATIONS | Texas A&M University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-6181-1312 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 12 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 10 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 12 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2016 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Effects of Psychological Distance on Mental Abstraction: A Registered Report of Four Tests of Construal-Level Theory
Construal-level theory (CLT) proposes that psychological distance influences the level of abstraction at which something is mentally construed: Things perceived as less probable (likelihood) or further away from the here (spatial distance), now (temporal distance), or self (social distance) are thought about more abstractly. In this international multilab study, we tested four basic hypotheses derived from core assumptions of CLT and explore pote…
Perceiving persons and their purposes: Teleology, normativity, and personal identity
Multiple investigations find a close association between morality and identity: morally-relevant traits are perceived as more definitive of personal identity than nonmoral traits. Three studies tested whether teleological cognition explains this moral essentialism in folk reasoning about personal identity. In Study 1, moral traits were perceived as both more identity-relevant and more purpose-relevant than nonmoral traits. In Studies 2A and 2B, w…
Essentialist beliefs about the self predict psychological well-being
The current studies tested whether self-essentialist beliefs (SEBs; that is, believing one's identity is defined by enduring, inherent properties) enhance self-perceptions and psychological well-being. In Studies 1A (n = 208) and 1B (n = 305), we found that SEBs predicted self-perceptions and well-being, even with related variables controlled. Study 2 (n = 129) replicated and extended these findings in a short longitudinal design. In Studies 3A (…
Emotional, motivational and attitudinal consequences of autonomous prosocial behaviour
When do prosocial actors experience positive versus negative psychological outcomes from helping others? In four studies and an internal meta‐analysis, we tested the hypothesis that autonomy shapes the psychological consequences of helping others. In Study 1, prosocial behaviour was associated with a robust pattern of negative well‐being outcomes (i.e., depression, anxiety, stress) for individuals low but not high in autonomy. In Studies 2–4, rel…
Is the Illusion of Authenticity Beneficial? Merely Perceiving Decisions as Guided by the True Self Enhances Decision Satisfaction
Many people endorse a “true-self-as-guide” (TSAG) lay theory of decision-making that suggests following one’s true self is an optimal strategy for making decisions. Across five studies ( N = 1,320), we test whether perceived use of the true self enhances decision satisfaction. Study 1 provides correlational evidence. Studies 2 and 3 provide experimental evidence that participants felt more satisfied with choices made under TSAG instructions, comp…
Understanding the Relationship Between Perceived Authenticity and Well-Being
A central tenet of many prominent philosophical and psychological traditions is that personal authenticity facilitates psychological well-being. This idea, however, is at odds with numerous perspectives arguing that it is difficult, if not impossible, to really know one's self, or the true self may not even exist. Moreover, empirical findings suggest that reports of authenticity are often contaminated by positively valenced behavior, further pote…
Why do people believe in a “true self”? The role of essentialist reasoning about personal identity and the self
Why do many people come to believe that they and others have a true self? We hypothesized that this belief emerges because people routinely rely on essentialist reasoning to understand personal identity and the self. Across eight studies, we found that (a) the features that participants attributed to the true self resembled the features typically attributed to essences (e.g., immutability, informativeness, inherence; Studies 1-4); (b) endorsement…
Existential Ennui: Examining the Reciprocal Relationship Between Self-Alienation and Academic Amotivation
Two studies ( N = 649) examined the association between self-alienation (SA; i.e., feelings of detachment from one’s true self) and academic amotivation (AA; i.e., lack of motivation in the academic domain). Based on classical and contemporary theories, a strong link between alienation and amotivation was predicted. A cross-sectional correlation study (Study 1) found that SA significantly predicted AA controlling for relevant variables (e.g., sel…
Following one's true self and the sacredness of cultural values
The Reciprocal Relationship Between Perceptions of Moral Goodness and Knowledge of Others’ True Selves
The idea of true selves is widespread in folk psychology. Most research on this topic has focused on the precursors to and consequences of feeling that one knows or is expressing one’s own true self. As such, little is known about the conditions under which people feel like they know the true selves of others. In five studies (total N = 815), we tested and found support for the hypothesis that moral information is inherently tied to perceived kno…
The true self and existential structure? Unexpected effects of mortality salience and personal need for structure on belief in a true self
Two studies examined (what seemed to be) a relatively straightforward prediction that mortality salience would increase belief in a true self. This hypothesis was based on existing evidence that the idea of a true self helps people organize the world as well as evidence suggesting that people are particularly likely to rely on such organizing structures when death is salient. We further hypothesized that this effect would be pronounced for indivi…
Investing in the real me: Preference for experiential to material purchases driven by the motivation to search for true self-knowledge
One mechanism underlying the hedonic benefits of experiential purchases is that one’s core self is more centrally reflected in experiential purchases. However, little is known about whether people consume experiential purchases as a means of discovering their true self. The present research explored the possibility that people value experiential purchases as a potential tool for understanding their true self. Consistent with the hypothesis, Study…
Why do people believe in a “true self”? The role of essentialist reasoning about personal identity and the self
Why do many people come to believe that they and others have a true self? We hypothesized that this belief emerges because people routinely rely on essentialist reasoning to understand personal identity and the self. Across eight studies, we found that (a) the features that participants attributed to the true self resembled the features typically attributed to essences (e.g., immutability, informativeness, inherence; Studies 1-4); (b) endorsement…
Emotional, motivational and attitudinal consequences of autonomous prosocial behaviour
When do prosocial actors experience positive versus negative psychological outcomes from helping others? In four studies and an internal meta‐analysis, we tested the hypothesis that autonomy shapes the psychological consequences of helping others. In Study 1, prosocial behaviour was associated with a robust pattern of negative well‐being outcomes (i.e., depression, anxiety, stress) for individuals low but not high in autonomy. In Studies 2–4, rel…
Following one's true self and the sacredness of cultural values
Investing in the real me: Preference for experiential to material purchases driven by the motivation to search for true self-knowledge
One mechanism underlying the hedonic benefits of experiential purchases is that one’s core self is more centrally reflected in experiential purchases. However, little is known about whether people consume experiential purchases as a means of discovering their true self. The present research explored the possibility that people value experiential purchases as a potential tool for understanding their true self. Consistent with the hypothesis, Study…
The Reciprocal Relationship Between Perceptions of Moral Goodness and Knowledge of Others’ True Selves
The idea of true selves is widespread in folk psychology. Most research on this topic has focused on the precursors to and consequences of feeling that one knows or is expressing one’s own true self. As such, little is known about the conditions under which people feel like they know the true selves of others. In five studies (total N = 815), we tested and found support for the hypothesis that moral information is inherently tied to perceived kno…
The true self and existential structure? Unexpected effects of mortality salience and personal need for structure on belief in a true self
Two studies examined (what seemed to be) a relatively straightforward prediction that mortality salience would increase belief in a true self. This hypothesis was based on existing evidence that the idea of a true self helps people organize the world as well as evidence suggesting that people are particularly likely to rely on such organizing structures when death is salient. We further hypothesized that this effect would be pronounced for indivi…
Existential Ennui: Examining the Reciprocal Relationship Between Self-Alienation and Academic Amotivation
Two studies ( N = 649) examined the association between self-alienation (SA; i.e., feelings of detachment from one’s true self) and academic amotivation (AA; i.e., lack of motivation in the academic domain). Based on classical and contemporary theories, a strong link between alienation and amotivation was predicted. A cross-sectional correlation study (Study 1) found that SA significantly predicted AA controlling for relevant variables (e.g., sel…
Following one's true self and the sacredness of cultural values
Understanding the Relationship Between Perceived Authenticity and Well-Being
A central tenet of many prominent philosophical and psychological traditions is that personal authenticity facilitates psychological well-being. This idea, however, is at odds with numerous perspectives arguing that it is difficult, if not impossible, to really know one's self, or the true self may not even exist. Moreover, empirical findings suggest that reports of authenticity are often contaminated by positively valenced behavior, further pote…
Why do people believe in a “true self”? The role of essentialist reasoning about personal identity and the self
Why do many people come to believe that they and others have a true self? We hypothesized that this belief emerges because people routinely rely on essentialist reasoning to understand personal identity and the self. Across eight studies, we found that (a) the features that participants attributed to the true self resembled the features typically attributed to essences (e.g., immutability, informativeness, inherence; Studies 1-4); (b) endorsement…
Is the Illusion of Authenticity Beneficial? Merely Perceiving Decisions as Guided by the True Self Enhances Decision Satisfaction
Many people endorse a “true-self-as-guide” (TSAG) lay theory of decision-making that suggests following one’s true self is an optimal strategy for making decisions. Across five studies ( N = 1,320), we test whether perceived use of the true self enhances decision satisfaction. Study 1 provides correlational evidence. Studies 2 and 3 provide experimental evidence that participants felt more satisfied with choices made under TSAG instructions, comp…
Emotional, motivational and attitudinal consequences of autonomous prosocial behaviour
When do prosocial actors experience positive versus negative psychological outcomes from helping others? In four studies and an internal meta‐analysis, we tested the hypothesis that autonomy shapes the psychological consequences of helping others. In Study 1, prosocial behaviour was associated with a robust pattern of negative well‐being outcomes (i.e., depression, anxiety, stress) for individuals low but not high in autonomy. In Studies 2–4, rel…
Perceiving persons and their purposes: Teleology, normativity, and personal identity
Multiple investigations find a close association between morality and identity: morally-relevant traits are perceived as more definitive of personal identity than nonmoral traits. Three studies tested whether teleological cognition explains this moral essentialism in folk reasoning about personal identity. In Study 1, moral traits were perceived as both more identity-relevant and more purpose-relevant than nonmoral traits. In Studies 2A and 2B, w…
Essentialist beliefs about the self predict psychological well-being
The current studies tested whether self-essentialist beliefs (SEBs; that is, believing one's identity is defined by enduring, inherent properties) enhance self-perceptions and psychological well-being. In Studies 1A (n = 208) and 1B (n = 305), we found that SEBs predicted self-perceptions and well-being, even with related variables controlled. Study 2 (n = 129) replicated and extended these findings in a short longitudinal design. In Studies 3A (…
Effects of Psychological Distance on Mental Abstraction: A Registered Report of Four Tests of Construal-Level Theory
Construal-level theory (CLT) proposes that psychological distance influences the level of abstraction at which something is mentally construed: Things perceived as less probable (likelihood) or further away from the here (spatial distance), now (temporal distance), or self (social distance) are thought about more abstractly. In this international multilab study, we tested four basic hypotheses derived from core assumptions of CLT and explore pote…
Psychology (11 works) · Social Psychology (11 works) · Social and Intergroup Psychology (7 works) · Cultural Differences and Values (6 works) · Epistemology (6 works) · Behavioral Health and Interventions (5 works) · Perception (5 works) · Social Psychology (5 works) · Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment (4 works) · Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion (3 works)