The general, long-term objective of the research program is to investigate the principles underlying approach/avoidance motivations that produce adaptive and maladaptive self-regulation. The proposed research investigates the principles of regulatory focus. Regulatory focus distinguishes between a promotion focus concerned with accomplishments and gains and a preference for eager approach strategies of goal pursuit versus a prevention focus concerned with security and non-losses and a preference for vigilant avoidance strategies. The proposed research addresses the question, """"""""When are people willing to change their current state for a new state?"""""""" This question has major significance for understanding clinical disorders and how to treat them.
The specific aims are: I. A critical component of contemplating change involves making comparisons among given and new alternatives. The proposed research considers the following aspects of comparison and how these vary as a function of the regulatory focus difference in strategic emphasis"""""""" (A) A promotion focus increases the importance of additions (+1) to the current state, and decreases the importance of subtractions from the current state (-1). The opposite is true of a prevention focus. (B) A promotion focus state increases the importance of the unique, non-overlapping attributes of different choice alternatives. A prevention focus state increases the importance of the alignable, overlapping attributes of different choice alternatives. (C) After freely choosing between two alternatives, a promotion focus state increases dissonance from the benefits of the forsaken alternative. A prevention focus state increases dissonance from the costs of the accepted alternative. II. Setting goals for the future is another central component of contemplating change. The application examines the implications of promotion and prevention, respectively, having a differential goal emphasis on maximal goals (a goal one hopes to reach) versus minimal goals (a goal one must reach). It is hypothesized that' (A) As promotion increases the actual performance goal will be set closer to the maximal than the minimal goal, whereas the reverse will be true as prevention increases; and (B) As promotion increases there will be stronger preference for using a disjunctive than a conjunctive decision rule, whereas the reverse will be true as prevention increases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH039429-25
Application #
7456565
Study Section
Social Psychology, Personality and Interpersonal Processes Study Section (SPIP)
Program Officer
Kozak, Michael J
Project Start
1990-01-15
Project End
2009-06-30
Budget Start
2008-07-01
Budget End
2009-06-30
Support Year
25
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$276,860
Indirect Cost
Name
Columbia University (N.Y.)
Department
Psychology
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
049179401
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10027
Neacsiu, Andrada D; Luber, Bruce M; Davis, Simon W et al. (2018) On the Concurrent Use of Self-System Therapy and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as Treatment for Depression. J ECT 34:266-273
Luber, Bruce M; Davis, Simon; Bernhardt, Elisabeth et al. (2017) Using neuroimaging to individualize TMS treatment for depression: Toward a new paradigm for imaging-guided intervention. Neuroimage 148:1-7
Cornwell, James F M; Higgins, E Tory (2016) Eager feelings and vigilant reasons: Regulatory focus differences in judging moral wrongs. J Exp Psychol Gen 145:338-55
Strauman, Timothy J; Socolar, Yvonne; Kwapil, Lori et al. (2015) Microinterventions targeting regulatory focus and regulatory fit selectively reduce dysphoric and anxious mood. Behav Res Ther 72:18-29
Cornwell, James F M; Higgins, E Tory (2014) Locomotion concerns with moral usefulness: When liberals endorse binding moral foundations. J Exp Soc Psychol 50:
Zhang, Shu; Cornwell, James F M; Higgins, E Tory (2014) Repeating the past: prevention focus motivates repetition, even for unethical decisions. Psychol Sci 25:179-87
Cornwell, James F M; Higgins, E Tory (2013) Morality and its relation to political ideology: the role of promotion and prevention concerns. Pers Soc Psychol Bull 39:1164-72
Higgins, E Tory; Franks, Becca; Pavarini, Dana et al. (2013) Expressed Likelihood as Motivator: Creating Value through Engaging What's Real. J Econ Psychol 38:4-15
Higgins, E Tory; Marguc, Janina; Scholer, Abigail A (2012) Value From Adversity: How We Deal With Adversity Matters. J Exp Soc Psychol 48:965-967
Hedberg, Per H; Higgins, E Tory (2011) What Remains on Your Mind After You Are Done?: Flexible Regulation of Knowledge Accessibility. J Exp Soc Psychol 47:882-890

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