The modulating role of questions in repeated action

Lohmann, Sophie

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/90848 Copy

Description

Title

The modulating role of questions in repeated action

Author(s)

Lohmann, Sophie

Issue Date

2016-04-28

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Albarracín, Dolores

Committee Member(s)

Cheng, Joey T.

Department of Study

Psychology

Discipline

Psychology

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.A.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• repeated action
• self-talk
• inner speech
• habits

Abstract

"Repeated action can be more or less under habitual control, depending on how often it has been repeated, how complex it is, and how stable the context is. We propose that in situations where behavior is somewhat habitual but still flexible, repeated action can be modified by self-talk questions: Instead of a direct cue-behavior association, the situation may lead people to ask themselves a question, which then prompts action. Across three studies, participants showed below-baseline rates of behavior repetition when they were presented with the negative question ""Which one should I not choose?"". In contrast, people tended to repeat their behavior above baseline levels when they were presented with the affirmative question ""Which one should I choose?"". In Experiment 3, this effect vanished when repetition was explicitly requested, providing evidence for our hypothesis that self-talk most effectively guides behavior when behavior is still flexible."

Graduation Semester

2016-05

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/90848

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2016 Sophie Lohmann

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