Reflecting on identity change facilitates confession of past misdeeds.

Abstract

[Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported online in Journal of Experimental Psychology: General on Feb 24 2022 (see record 2022-33834-001). In the article "Reflecting on Identity Change Facilitates Confession of Past Misdeeds" by Beth Anne Helgason and Jonathan Zev Berman (Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. Advance online publication. January 31, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/xge0001180), the labels of several confidence intervals were omitted due to a copyediting error.] Across four studies (N = 3,351), we demonstrate that reflecting on identity change increases confession and decreases justification of past misdeeds. Moreover, publicly communicating one's identity change to others increases confession above and beyond privately reflecting on identity change. By severing their connection with their past self, individuals can admit to past a misdeed ("I did it") while reducing their fear that doing so will implicate their present moral character ("But that's not who I am anymore"). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).