selfaffirmation

Self-affirmation is a psychological process in which individuals bolster their self-integrity by reflecting on personally meaningful values, qualities, or accomplishments. It aims to maintain a coherent sense of self when faced with threats such as failure, social rejection, or negative feedback, thereby reducing defensiveness and promoting adaptive responses.

The concept is central to Self-Affirmation Theory, introduced by Claude Steele in 1988. The theory posits that threats trigger concern about overall self-worth, leading people to defend the self in particular domains. By affirming core values, individuals sustain a broader sense of self-worth, which can make them more open to information, even if it challenges their attitudes.

Common methods in both research and applied settings include value-affirmation exercises, such as writing about an important personal value or recalling times when that value was demonstrated. These tasks can be brief (often under 15 minutes) and are designed to activate a stable sense of self that is not contingent on a single domain.

Research findings suggest self-affirmation can improve coping with stress, reduce defensiveness to health-risk information, and enhance academic performance under pressure. The effects are context-dependent and typically small to moderate in size, varying with threat magnitude, domain relevance, cultural factors, and baseline self-esteem.

Critiques note that self-affirmation is not a universal remedy and may have limited duration or efficacy without reinforcement. Some studies report null or mixed results, and cultural differences in values and self-construals can influence effectiveness. Nevertheless, self-affirmation remains a widely studied approach in psychology for supporting well-being, behavior change, and openness to information.