Rebecca J Schlegel
Biographic Data
| ID | 764054 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Rebecca J Schlegel |
| GIVEN NAMES | Rebecca J |
| FAMILY NAME | Schlegel |
| SIGNATURE | SCHLEGEL R J |
| AFFILIATIONS | Texas A&M University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-7331-4102 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 45 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 91 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 45 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2007 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Fluency as a Cue to Authenticity
The quest for authenticity is a potent existential striving. Commonly defined as knowing and living in accordance with one’s perceived “true self,” we propose that authenticity may also be inferred from ambient feelings of fluency, or the subjective feeling of ease that corresponds to one’s immediate experience, mental processing, or physical action. We report four studies ( N = 1,465) supporting this idea. Study 1 shows that fluency during a rec…
Exploring the Link Between Identity Avoidance and Perceived Self-Knowledge
Individuals with concealable stigmatized identities (CSIs) may employ avoidance strategies to hide their identities. While seemingly protective, identity avoidance may negatively impact perceived self-knowledge (i.e., self-concept clarity and self-alienation). Across six studies ( N = 1,945) with U.S. and Chinese university samples, we found that those with CSIs consistently reported lower levels of perceived self-knowledge than those without (St…
Behind every artwork is a story: Phenomenological analysis of understandings achieved through engagement with art
Liking Predicts Judgments of Authenticity in Real-Time Interactions More Robustly Than Personality States or Affect
We conducted three studies involving small group interactions ( N = 622) that examined whether Big Five personality states, affect, and/or liking predict judgments of others’ authenticity. Study 1 ( n = 119) revealed that neither self -rated personality states nor affect predicted other-rated authenticity. Instead, other-rated liking was the only predictor of other-rated authenticity. Study 2 ( n = 281) revealed that other -rated personality stat…
Lay-theories reflect, reproduce, deny, and acknowledge racism: Explaining Covid-19 racial health disparities in the United States
Lay-theories are sets of interconnected ideas people use to understand and explain their worlds. We used a reflexive thematic analysis to investigate participant-generated lay-beliefs about COVID-19 disparities between White and Black communities ( N = 150) and between White and Latinx communities ( N = 145) in the United States. Informed by Critical Race Psychology perspectives, we discuss how racism is reflected and reproduced in lay-beliefs ab…
Free will and scientific determinism beliefs and the support for physician-assisted death
Public attitudes surrounding support for or opposition to physician-assisted death (PAD) have largely been examined through broad factors such as religiosity. While religious beliefs undoubtedly play a role, we contend that existential lay beliefs, such as free will and scientific determinism, offer additional explanatory value. Across four studies ( N = 1,548), utilizing both university and Prolific samples, we found mostly consistent evidence t…
Self-essentialism underlies social projection to unfamiliar similar others
Social projection to similar others is a foundational finding in research on social inference. This article offers a novel mechanism for this effect. We propose that people project broad self-knowledge onto social targets with whom they share an isolated cue of similarity through a two-step self-essentialist process: (a) a singular similarity (e.g., shared view on a social issue) is first attributed to a target's self-essence (i.e., the internal,…
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 (…
Gender and race disparities in the evaluation of Covid-19 impact statements for tenure and promotion candidates
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted research productivity for many faculty members. As a result, many US universities began asking promotion and tenure candidates to create COVID-19 impact statements in hopes of mitigating the negative impact of these disruptions on tenure decisions. However, little is known about how such impact statements might be evaluated by promotion and tenure committees. This study examined whether such statements might be eva…
Virtue and authenticity in civic life
A robust literature indicates that when people feel that they are expressing and aware of their true selves, they show enhanced psychological health and well-being. This feeling, commonly referred to as authenticity, is therefore a consequential experience. In this paper, we review a program of research focused on the relevance of authenticity for civic engagement. We describe how a virtuous orientation to civic engagement might make civic action…
Authentic for Thee But Not for Me: Perceived Authenticity in Self-Control Conflicts
Is self-control authentic? Across several hypothetical scenarios, participants perceived impulsive actions as more authentic for others (Study 1a) but self-control as more authentic for themselves (Study 1b). Study 2 partially replicated this asymmetry. Study 3 accounted for behavior positivity because self-control was typically the more positive action in the previous studies. Study 4 minimized the influence of positivity by framing the same beh…
Civic Hope and the Perceived Authenticity of Democratic Participation
In two studies, we tested how the expression of civic hope in narratives and the perceived authenticity of civic/political actions relate to civic/political engagement. In a cross-sectional study of undergraduates ( N = 230), the expression of civic hope predicted the perceived authenticity of civic actions (e.g., voting), which in turn predicted the motivation to engage in them. In a longitudinal on-line study that began 8 weeks prior to the 202…
Authenticity, meaning in life, and life satisfaction: A multicomponent investigation of relationships at the trait and state levels
OBJECTIVE: The present study sought to examine: (1) how the components of authenticity (i.e., authentic living, self-alienation, accepting external influence) relate to one another at between- and within-person levels of analysis; (2) how the authenticity facets relate to meaning in life (i.e., purpose, comprehension, mattering) and life satisfaction at these levels of analysis; and (3) whether these relationships persist when controlling for aff…
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…
The Effect of True Self-Attributions on the Endorsement of Retributive and Restorative Justice
We examined how the attribution of criminal behavior to an individual’s “true” self influences justice preferences. In Study 1 ( N = 521), the extent to which undergraduates attributed a crime to a target’s true self positively predicted their endorsement of a retributive form of punishment and negatively predicted their endorsement of a restorative form of punishment. Study 2 ( N = 404) was preregistered and replicated these associations, even w…
When race trumps political ideology: Black teachers who advocate for social responsibility are penalized by both liberals and conservatives
Meritocracy is a prominent narrative embedded in America’s educational system: work hard and anyone can achieve success. Yet, racial disparities in education suggest this narrative does not tell the full story. Four studies ( N = 1,439) examined how applicants for a teaching position are evaluated when they invoke different narratives regarding who or what is to blame for racial disparities (i.e., individuals vs. systems). We hypothesized these e…
True-self-as-guide lay theory endorsement across five countries
A widespread lay theory in the United States suggests that the best way to make decisions is to follow who you “really are”, referred to as the “true-self-as-guide” (TSAG) lay theory of decision making. In this paper, we explore whether people from four less-WEIRD (i.e., Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) countries also explicitly endorse the TSAG lay theory, whether individual differences in horizontal/vertical individualis…
The authentic catch-22: Following the true self promotes decision satisfaction in moral dilemmas
Experiential appreciation as a pathway to meaning in life
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…
The Role of Perceived Authenticity in Psychological Recovery from Collective Trauma
Introduction: Previous research demonstrates that perceived authenticity is positively associated with psychological health and security in the face of threats. The current research extends this work by testing whether perceived authenticity promotes recovery from the negative mental health consequences of collective trauma (e.g., a natural disaster). Methods: We recruited a sample of undergraduates (N = 570), many of whom reported direct or indi…
Stuck in an Existential Quagmire: The Role of Perceived True Self-Knowledge in Client Stuckness
Introduction: Research suggests that perceived true self-knowledge is important for well-being. However, less discussion exists about how perceived true self-knowledge affects therapy outcomes. We suggest that perceived true self-knowledge may be important when attempting to address client stuckness (i.e., lack of progress in therapy; Beaudoin, 2008). We argue that when clients perceive a lack of true self-knowledge, they are unable to draw upon …
Spillover of authenticity from work to home: The mediating role of affect
A growing area of research is beginning to examine the state‐like nature of authenticity. The current study builds on this research by examining the (dis)continuity in state authenticity across two different social contexts: work and home. We surveyed 154 full‐time employees twice a day for five consecutive workdays. Results showed that state authenticity at work and at home shared a relatively strong positive relationship that appeared to be med…
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…
Remembering Gay/Lesbian Media Characters: Can Ellen and Will Improve Attitudes Toward Homosexuals
The purpose of the current research was twofold. First, a pilot study was conducted in which participants were asked to recall any memorable gay or lesbian television or film character and complete a survey about their perceptions of the character. Results indicated that over two-thirds of heterosexual participants recalled either Ellen or Will, and evaluative ratings for these characters were generally positive. The second purpose of this resear…
Thine own self: True self-concept accessibility and meaning in life
A number of philosophical and psychological theories suggest the true self is an important contributor to well-being. The present research examined whether the cognitive accessibility of the true self-concept would predict the experience of meaning in life. To ensure that any observed effects were due to the true self-concept rather than to the self-concept more generally, the authors used actual self-concept accessibility as a control variable i…
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…
The dynamic interplay between perceived true self-knowledge and decision satisfaction
The present research used multiple methods to examine the hypothesis that perceived true self-knowledge and decision satisfaction are inextricably linked together by a widely held "true-self-as-guide" lay theory of decision making. Consistent with this proposition, Study 1 found that participants rated using the true self as a guide as more important for achieving personal satisfaction than a variety of other potential decision-making strategies.…
Experiential appreciation as a pathway to meaning in life
A window to the true self: The importance of I-sharing in romantic relationships
This article examines the importance of I-sharing within romantic relationships. Results from four independent samples indicate that perceived frequency of I-sharing with one's romantic partner predicts relationship satisfaction and that this relationship is potentially mediated by perceptions that one's partner knows one's true self. These results fit with theories about increasing expectations on modern relationships to fulfill self-expression …
Does expertise matter in replication? An examination of the reproducibility project: Psychology
Abstract construal levels attenuate state self-esteem reactivity
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…
Approaching the true self: Promotion focus predicts the experience of authenticity
Following one's true self and the sacredness of cultural values
Remembering Gay/Lesbian Media Characters: Can Ellen and Will Improve Attitudes Toward Homosexuals
The purpose of the current research was twofold. First, a pilot study was conducted in which participants were asked to recall any memorable gay or lesbian television or film character and complete a survey about their perceptions of the character. Results indicated that over two-thirds of heterosexual participants recalled either Ellen or Will, and evaluative ratings for these characters were generally positive. The second purpose of this resear…
Thine own self: True self-concept accessibility and meaning in life
A number of philosophical and psychological theories suggest the true self is an important contributor to well-being. The present research examined whether the cognitive accessibility of the true self-concept would predict the experience of meaning in life. To ensure that any observed effects were due to the true self-concept rather than to the self-concept more generally, the authors used actual self-concept accessibility as a control variable i…
Feeling Like You Know Who You Are: Perceived True Self-Knowledge and Meaning in Life
The essence of who a person really is has been labeled the “true self,” and an emerging area of research suggests that this self-concept plays an important role in the creation of a fulfilling existence. Three studies investigate the role of the subjective feeling that one possesses knowledge of one’s true self in meaning in life judgments. Consistently, the perception of availability of true self-knowledge (operationalized as the metacognitive e…
Abstract construal levels attenuate state self-esteem reactivity
To Discover or to Create: Metaphors and the True Self
Three studies examined how endorsement of self‐discovery and self‐creation metaphors influences belief in the true self and its use as meaning source. It was hypothesized that discovery metaphors contribute to belief in the true self and bolster the relationship between true self‐knowledge and meaning. Study 1 supported the hypothesis that discovery is positively associated with belief in the true self among a sample of college students ( N = 311…
The dynamic interplay between perceived true self-knowledge and decision satisfaction
The present research used multiple methods to examine the hypothesis that perceived true self-knowledge and decision satisfaction are inextricably linked together by a widely held "true-self-as-guide" lay theory of decision making. Consistent with this proposition, Study 1 found that participants rated using the true self as a guide as more important for achieving personal satisfaction than a variety of other potential decision-making strategies.…
Guilty, But Not Ashamed: “True” Self‐Conceptions Influence Affective Responses to Personal Shortcomings
The current research examined how true self‐conceptions (who a person believes he or she truly is) influence negative self‐relevant emotions in response to shortcomings. In S tudy 1 ( N = 83), an I nternet sample of adults completed a measure of authenticity, reflected on a shortcoming or positive life event, and completed state shame and guilt measures. In S tudy 2 ( N = 49), undergraduates focused on true versus other determined self‐attributes…
Who Needs Individual Responsibility? Audience Race and Message Content Influence Third-Party Evaluations of Political Messages
The present research examined the idea that people believe Black Americans think society is less fair than members of other racial groups (Study 1a), that these beliefs are out of touch with reality (Study 1b), and that Black audiences need to hear individual blame messages to bring these discrepant views more in line with reality (Study 2). We then examined a downstream consequence of these beliefs: differing third-party evaluations of speeches …
True self-alienation positively predicts reports of mindwandering
Does expertise matter in replication? An examination of the reproducibility project: Psychology
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…
Becoming your true self: Perceptions of authenticity across the lifespan
Two studies investigated how authenticity is believed to change over time. We tested for two possible trajectories: (1) A simple positive linear progression driven by self-enhancement motives and (2) a linear progression followed by a plateau indicative of the end of the history illusion. Across both studies, participants completed measures of perceived authenticity for different points in their lives. Study 1 was over a relatively short period o…
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…
Thinking about a new decade in life increases personal self-reflection: A replication and reinterpretation of Alter and Hershfield’s (2014) findings
Alter and Hershfield (2014) recently published a set of studies suggesting that people often search for existential meaning as they approach a new decade in chronological age. The purpose of the current research was to replicate their experimental study (Study 2 in their article) and extend their findings using additional operational measures of search for meaning. Study 1 was a replication comparing the two conditions used in the original study …
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…
Approaching the true self: Promotion focus predicts the experience of authenticity
Daily mental lapses and the subjective experience of true self-alienation
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…
A window to the true self: The importance of I-sharing in romantic relationships
This article examines the importance of I-sharing within romantic relationships. Results from four independent samples indicate that perceived frequency of I-sharing with one's romantic partner predicts relationship satisfaction and that this relationship is potentially mediated by perceptions that one's partner knows one's true self. These results fit with theories about increasing expectations on modern relationships to fulfill self-expression …
The Role of Perceived Authenticity in Psychological Recovery from Collective Trauma
Introduction: Previous research demonstrates that perceived authenticity is positively associated with psychological health and security in the face of threats. The current research extends this work by testing whether perceived authenticity promotes recovery from the negative mental health consequences of collective trauma (e.g., a natural disaster). Methods: We recruited a sample of undergraduates (N = 570), many of whom reported direct or indi…
Stuck in an Existential Quagmire: The Role of Perceived True Self-Knowledge in Client Stuckness
Introduction: Research suggests that perceived true self-knowledge is important for well-being. However, less discussion exists about how perceived true self-knowledge affects therapy outcomes. We suggest that perceived true self-knowledge may be important when attempting to address client stuckness (i.e., lack of progress in therapy; Beaudoin, 2008). We argue that when clients perceive a lack of true self-knowledge, they are unable to draw upon …
Spillover of authenticity from work to home: The mediating role of affect
A growing area of research is beginning to examine the state‐like nature of authenticity. The current study builds on this research by examining the (dis)continuity in state authenticity across two different social contexts: work and home. We surveyed 154 full‐time employees twice a day for five consecutive workdays. Results showed that state authenticity at work and at home shared a relatively strong positive relationship that appeared to be med…
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…
Psychology (40 works) · Social Psychology (39 works) · Social and Intergroup Psychology (21 works) · Perception (14 works) · Cultural Differences and Values (13 works) · Social Psychology (12 works) · Developmental psychology (11 works) · Epistemology (11 works) · Behavioral Health and Interventions (10 works) · Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion (9 works)