Changing, Priming, and Acting on Values:Effects via Motivational Relations in a Circular Model

摘要

Circular models of values and goals suggest that some motivational aims are consistent with each other,some oppose each other, and others are orthogonal to each other. The present experiments tested this ideaexplicitly by examining how value confrontation and priming methods influence values and value-consistent behaviors throughout the entire value system. Experiment 1 revealed that change in 1 set ofsocial values causes motivationally compatible values to increase in importance, whereas motivationallyincompatible values decrease in importance and orthogonal values remain the same. Experiment 2 foundthat priming security values reduced the better-than-average effect, but priming stimulation valuesincreased it. Similarly, Experiments 3 and 4 found that priming security values increased cleanliness anddecreased curiosity behaviors, whereas priming self-direction values decreased cleanliness and increasedcuriosity behaviors. Experiment 5 found that priming achievement values increased success at puzzlecompletion and decreased helpfulness to an experimenter, whereas priming with benevolence valuesdecreased success and increased helpfulness. These results highlight the importance of circular modelsdescribing motivational interconnections between values and personal goals.