Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
According to Grawe’s Consistency Theory, congruence between an individual’s aims and reality is fundamental for psychological health. We examined the real and ideal self-images of N = 440 participants in a Germanic/Austrian cultural context as perceived in presence and as anticipated for an age of 80 years and examined their relationship to value orientations as a coping resource. From adjective ratings on the Semantic Differential for the real self-image at presence, two dimensions were extracted, one representing Warmth (W) and one representing Competence (C) in the sense of the Stereotype Content Model. Cluster analysis yielded one type of respondents with a cautiously optimistic, and one with a moderately pessimistic view of the present and the future. A third cluster devalued W and C in favor of Religiosity and Conservatism and had the highest degree of congruence between real and ideal self-images. Thus, hypotheses with regard to Religiosity and Conservatism as coping resources were confirmed.
Highlights
Hopes and fears about what one’s life will be like when getting older are of increasing salience in an era of growing life expectancy
Whereas the three-factor solution was difficult to interpret, the two factors extracted clearly matched the theoretical expectations of the Stereotype Content Model
Two factors, explaining 24.2% and 8.3% of the variance respectively were retained. These factors correspond to the Stereotype Content Model, with Factor I representing Competence and Factor II Warmth
Summary
Hopes and fears about what one’s life will be like when getting older are of increasing salience in an era of growing life expectancy. With respect to the individual’s prospective emotional state, possible discrepancies between the expected real vs ideal self-images should be considered. In his Consistency Theory, Grawe 1998 [1] suggested that inconsistency may stem either from conflicting goals (“dissonance”) or from a failure to attain one’s goals (“incongruence”) [2]. According to this theory, inconsistency can be deemed a breeding ground for psychological disorders or, consistency may be expected to contribute to psychological health. Empirical results confirming these assumptions have been summarized in a meta-analysis by Fries and Grawe 2006 [3]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
