Self-affirmation improves performance on tasks related to executive functioning

This data collection consists of experimental data collected at two time points. The objective of the current study was to explore the effect of self-affirmation on two aspects of performance that have been related to executive functioning: working memory (assessed by a 2-back task) and inhibition (assessed by a Stroop task). The goal was to establish whether self-affirmation improved performance on these tasks. Participants (N = 83) were randomized to either a self-affirmation or a control task and then completed the computerized tasks, in a fixed sequence. Results: Self-affirmed participants performed better than non-affirmed participants on both tasks. Conclusion: Self-affirmation can improve aspects of performance related to executive functioning. This finding may help to explain the wide range of beneficial effects that self-affirmation can have on cognition and behavior.<p>Self-affirmation has been shown to alter individuals’ reactions to a wide range of threats, yet comparatively little is known about its cognitive and affective consequences, especially in the immediate aftermath of self-affirmation. This project explored these effects and the role trait self-esteem in moderating them.</p>