Self-Concept Disconfirmation, Psychological Distress, and Marital Happiness

Abstract

Using self-verification and self-discrepancy theories, this research tests a model of subjective and objective self-disconfirmation, self-efficacy, depression, and marital happiness. his research expands the issue of self-validation by evaluating the role of self-efficacy in the relationship between self-disconfirmation and depression, and the effect of self-concept disconfirmation on marital relationships. Data were analyzed from interviews with 155 couples. For husbands, objective self-concept disconfirmation had an estimated effect on marital happiness mediated through self-efficacy and depression. For wives, subjective self-concept disconfirmation had an estimated effect on marital happiness mediated through depression. Perceived and actual disconfirming appraisals from a spouse may affect the self-concept and the relationship in which disconfirmation occurs. Investigation into the need of individuals to obtain self-concept validation and the psychological distress resulting from a lack of validation has grown out of the tradition of self-consistency and balance theories (Aronson, 1969; Festinger, 1957; Lecky, 1945; Secord & Backman, 1965) and has been formed and defined by the ongoing debate between the two motives of self-validation and self-enhancement (Deutsch & Solomon, 1959; Schlenker, 1985; Swann, Pehlam, & Krull, 1989). Recent theorizing on the relationship between self-concept validation and psychological distress includes self-verification theory (Swann, 1990) and self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1989; Higgins, Vookles and Tykocinski, 1992). Swann (1990) notes that individuals are interested in preserving firmly held self-conceptions that meet fundamental individual needs. A stable self-identity provides a sense of confidence in one's ability to function in the interactions and activities of everyday social life (Epstein, 1973; Secord & Backman, 1965). When the self-concept is validated by the actions of others, it bolsters an individual's feelings of confidence. Activities that disconfirm a person's self-concept create distress. Furthermore, individuals seek self-verification to assist in interaction so that others will honor the identity of that individual (Goffman, 1959; Swann, 1984). Self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987, 1989) posits that specific types of emotional discomfort are associated with different types of self-discrepancies. If a person's attributes do not match the self, a negative psychological situation results, associated with sadness, disappointment, or dissatisfaction. If a person's attributes do not match the ought self, the level that he or she personally believes it is his or her duty or obligation to attain or believes others feel he or she must attain, then the person experiences fear, worry, or tension. The former constitutes dejection-related problems; the latter represents agitation-related problems. While self-discrepancy theory has a focus somewhat different from self-verification theory, nonetheless, both theories define distress as a consequence of incongruity between different elements of the self-concept. Recently Swann, Hixon, and De La Ronde (1992) expanded the analysis of self-verification to the context of the marital relationship. They found that married partners prefer self-verifying appraisals over self-discrepant ones and that persons with positive self-views were more committed to spouses who thought well of them than to spouses who thought poorly of them. Alternatively, persons with negative self-views were more committed to spouses who thought poorly of them than to spouses who thought well of them. Of particular interest in their research is the assessment of self-verification in a stable, ongoing relationship outside the laboratory. The marital relationship presents an ideal form of interaction in which to examine the consequences of lack of verification for the self-identity. Marriage is a relatively long-term, intimate relationship in which considerable investments and commitments are made. …