Abstract

The present study investigated the motivational effects of the balance between positive and negative possible selves on task performance. Markus and Nurius(986) showed the importance of the balance in relation to the delinquent behavior, but not in relation to task performance. The present study focused on the question whether the balanced subjects perform better than those in positive possible selves condition. Seventy eight subjects participated in an experiment, where they were randomly assigned in one of the four experimental conditions: balance, positive, negative, and control condition. Possible selves were manipulated by imagination procedure. Dependent variables included the duration time of performance, amount of performance, and reaction time that subjects either accept the success-related words or reject failure-related words. Results indicated that subjects in the balance condition maintained their performance for the longest time, followed by subjects in the positive, negative, and control conditions in the order. In addition, subjects in the balance condition either accepted the success-related words or rejected failure-related words faster than those in the negative possible selves condition. Thus, the present study provides the empirical evidence that the balance between positive and negative possible selves produces a maximum motivational effect, compared to the other possible selves conditions.