I Think, Therefore I Change

Reflection Leads to Self-Concept Change After Discrepant Feedback

Bibliographic Data

ID21453468
AuthorsFranziska Brotzeller (0009-0002-3069-1503, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany, corresponding author), Gideon L Spägele (0009-0000-5455-4437, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany), Mario Gollwitzer (0000-0003-4310-4793, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany)
Year2026
Volume52
Issue7
Pages2133-2146
Publication date2026-07-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0146-1672 • E-ISSN: 1552-7433
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/01461672251333466
PMID40304138
OpenAlexW4409966484
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited44

Why do people change their self-perceptions (i.e., self-concept) after receiving external, self-discrepant information? While recent theorizing posits that reflection is a prerequisite for such change, empirical evidence supporting this is sparse. Here, we investigated the role of reflection in self-concept change after feedback in six studies. In Studies 1a–e (total N = 2,422), participants received feedback regarding a self-concept domain and we assessed reflection as well as self-concept change. Across studies, the amount of reflection was positively correlated with self-concept change. In Study 2 ( N = 1,149), we experimentally varied whether participants were encouraged to reflect on the feedback and their self-concept or prevented from doing so via a distractor task. We found that self-concept change was larger after inducing (vs. suppressing) reflection. Exploratory analyses showed that the association between reflection and self-concept change was more pronounced for negative than for positive feedback in Studies 1a–e, but not Study 2

Association (psychology) · Cognitive psychology · Developmental psychology · Perception · Psychoanalysis · Psychotherapist · Reflection (computer programming) · Self-concept · Self-Reflection · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Cultural Differences and Values · Psychology · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology

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