A MultiComponent Perspective on Authentic Functioning

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A Multi-Component Perspective on Authentic
Functioning

• Brian M. Goldman
• Clayton State University
• Michael H. Kernis, Whitney Heppner, Charles Lance
  
• University of Georgia

2
Collaborators

• Michael H. Kernis
• Chad Lakey
• Whitney Heppner
• Amy Brunell
• Josh D. Foster
• Patti Davis
• Ted Cascio
• Bob Vandenberg
• Chuck Lance

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What Does it Mean to be Authentic?

• Heidegger- What is meant by being?
• Thrown-ness
• Being-there
• Project make themselves
• Humanistic Psychology
• Growth Motives
• Actualizing Potentials
• Fully Functioning

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What Does it Mean to be Authentic?

• Everyday Perspectives
• Keepin It Real
• Being True to Yourself
• Being comfortable in your own skin

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Being Comfortable With Your Own Hair
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Seriously, Being Comfortable With Your Own Hair
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Evolving Selves
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Making Ones Self Others Expectations
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My Project
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A World Renown Innovator
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A Rich Businessman, With Benefits
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A Spiritual Guide (i.e., Rabbi)
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A President or First Man
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A Psychologist

• In Search of the True-Self

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How to Assess Authenticity?

• Subjective Experience of Authenticity
• Daily Reports
• True Self Goal Representations
• Dispositional Authenticity
• Multiple Processes or Components

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Daily Reports of Authenticity and Self-esteem
Study (Heppner et al. in prep)

• Satisfaction of basic needs for autonomy,
  competence, and relatedness is linked with many
  positive outcomes
• mental health (Ryan Deci, 2000)
• experience of satisfying events (Sheldon et al.,
  2001).
• We proposed that both daily satisfaction of basic
  needs and felt authenticity would have important
  implications for peoples daily SE.

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Method

• Over a 2-week span, 118 students completed daily
  measures (modified Sheldon et al.,)
• Sample Items Today I felt
• That my choices were based on my own interests
  and values (Autonomy)
• Very capable in what I did (Competence)
• Close and connected with other people who are
  important to me (Relatedness)
• That throughout the day I was in touch with my
  true self (Authenticity)
• Quite satisfied with who I am (Esteem)

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Findings and Conclusions

• All four daily variables independently predicted
  daily esteem (ps lt .001)
• Autonomy ß .28
• Authenticity ß .21
• Competence ß .16
• Relatedness ß .11
• Suggests that daily opportunities to exercise
  ones true self are also integral to
  self-esteem functioning.

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True-Self Goal Representations and Changes in
Well-Being (G K, in prep.)

• We examined the link between authentic goal
  functioning, self-characteristics, and changes in
  well-being.
• Over 4-weeks span, 97 participants completed
  measures in 2 separate phases.
• Phase One (1) Goal Functioning, (2)
  Self-Characteristics, (3) Well-Being
• Phase Two Well-Being

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Measures

• Personal Strivings (Elliott Sheldon, 1997)
• Chose 8 that best describes what they typically
  try to do
• Self-Determination
• Self-Regulatory Styles (reasons for engaging
  strivings)
• True-Self Goal Functioning
• Induction
• Take a few minutes to think about who you really
  are as a person your feelings and thoughts when
  you are answering only to yourself
• True-Self Goal Representations Rated the extent
  to which (striving) reflects who you really are
  as a person

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Measures (contd)

• Self-Characteristics
• Self-Concept Clarity
• Self-Esteem Level
• Contingent Self-Esteem
• Well-Being
• Life Satisfaction
• Psychological Well-Being (Ryff)

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Predicting Change In Well-Being

• After controlling for corresponding Time-1
  Well-Being Scores Life Satisfaction
• True-Self Goal Ratings ß .25
• Psyc. Well-Being
• True-Self Goal Ratings ß .27
• (Note p lt .01)

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Predicting Change In Well-Being (contd)

• After controlling for the influence of each of
  the self-characteristics and Time 1 W-B
• Predictors Life Satisfaction Psyc W-B
• True-Self Goal Ratings ß .26 ß .24
• Self-Determination ß .10 ß .06
• Self-Concept Clarity ß .00 ß -.13
• Self-Esteem Level (SE) ß .12 ß .04
• Contingent Self-Esteem ß -.12 ß .03
• Time 1 Well-Being ß .50 ß .44

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• A Dispositional Perspective of Authenticity

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Dispositional Authenticity

• The unimpeded operation of ones core or true
  self in ones daily enterprise
• Four Components
• Awareness
• Unbiased Processing
• Behavior
• Relational Orientation
• Authenticity Inventory (AI-3 Goldman Kernis,
  2004)
• 45-Item Individual Differences Measure
• Assesses Dispositional Levels of Authentic
  Functioning

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Awareness Component

• Recognizing and understanding ones core
  self-aspects motives, feelings, self-relevant
  beliefs, etc.
• Reflects figure-ground knowledge of personality
  traits and self-aspects.
• Strengths AND weaknesses
• Positive qualities AND negative ones.

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Awareness Items

• For better or for worse I am aware of who I truly
  am
• I am not in touch with my deepest thoughts and
  feelings (reversed)

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Unbiased Processing Component

• Objectivity in processing information about ones
  positive and negative self-aspects.
• NOT denying, distorting, or ignoring
• self-relevant information.

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Unbiased Processing Items

• I am very uncomfortable objectively considering
  my limitations and shortcomings (reversed)
• I often deny the validity of any compliments that
  I receive (reversed)

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Behavior Component

• Acting in accord with ones values, needs, and
  preferences
• NOT acting merely to please others, attain
  rewards or avoid punishments.
• Natural expression of ones core feelings,
  motives, and inclinations.

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Behavior Items

• I find that my behavior typically expresses my
  needs.
• I spend a lot of energy pursuing goals that are
  very important to other people even though they
  are unimportant to me (r)

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Relational Orientation Component

• Valuing and achieving openness, sincerity, and
  truthfulness within close relationships
• Honest expression of core self with close others
  so they see who one really is- both good and
  bad.

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Relational Items

• I want close others to understand the real me
  rather than the public persona or image
• People close to me would be shocked or surprised
  if they discovered what I keep inside me
  (reversed)
• My openness and honesty in close relationships
  are extremely important to me

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Correlations Among Authenticity Subscales

• AW
  UP BE RO
• Awareness ---
  
• Unbiased Process. .47 ---
  
• Behavior .51 .44
  ---
• Relational Orient. .63 .48 .55
  ---
• Note All ps lt .01

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Internal and Test-Retest Reliability

• Alpha
  Test-retest
• Total .90
  .87
• Awareness .79 .80
• Unb Proc .64 .69
• Behavior .80
  .73
• Relational .78
  .80
• 
  approx 4 weeks

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Dispositional Authenticity Research

• Summary of Findings (see K G, 2006 Advances)
• Psychological Interpersonal Adjustment
• Well-Being
• Romantic Relationships Functioning

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Psychological Interpersonal Adjustment

• Mindfulness
• MAAS .49
• KIMS .64
• Self-Concepts
• Clarity .68
• Differentiation -.32
• Self-Esteem
• Level .68
• Contingent -.58
• (In)Stability -.43

• Stress Coping
• Psychological Stress -.30
• Coping Styles
• -Active Coping .48
• -Denial -.22
• Verbal Defensiveness -.25
• Social Role Functioning
• Satisfaction .42
• Strain -.25
• Net Positive Affect .44
• Self-Determination .24

Note p lt .05, p lt .01
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Authenticity and Well-Being (W-B)

• Subjective W-B
• Life Satisfaction .32
• Positive Affect .40
• Negative Affect -.24
• Psychological W-B (Ryff)
• Autonomy .53
  
• Environmental Mastery .40
• Personal Growth .41
• Positive Relationships .37
• Purpose/Meaning in Life .33
• Self-Acceptance .31
  (Note p lt .05, p lt .01)

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AUTHENTICITY AND ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS

• (Kernis, Goldman, Brunell, Davis, Heppner, Cascio
  Vandenberg, in prep.)
• 62 Heterosexual Couples (dating gt 3 months)
• 3 Phases
• I. Dispositional Authenticity
• II. Relationship Process Variables
• III. Relationship outcome Well-being

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Theoretical Model
AWARE
UNBIAS Proc
MAUTH
Process
OUTCOME
WELLBE
BEHAVE
RELATE
AWARE
UNBIAS Proc
FAUTH
Process
OUTCOME
WELLBE
BEHAVE
RELATE
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Relationship Processes Composite

• Self-disclosure
• Discuss intimate topics with partner (e.g.,
  things you feel guilty about, whats important to
  you in life, personal habits)
• Self-concealment (reversed)
• Keeping secrets from partner
• Emotional Self-disclosure
• Various pleasant and unpleasant emotions

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Relationship Processes Composite (cont.)

• Destructive Reactions to Conflict (reversed)
• Exit- When my partner does something thoughtless
  or unpleasant, I reciprocate
• Neglect- I sulk when partner has been mean
• Fear of Intimacy (reversed)
• Expressing and receiving intimacy
• Partner Trust
• In ones welfare, decision-making, confronting
  unknown situations, being dependable

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Relationship Outcome and Well-being

• Relationship Outcome
• Satisfaction
• Commitment
• Well-Being
• Ryffs Multi-component Measure
• Life Satisfaction
• Net Positive Affect

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AWARE
0.73
0.47
UNBIASED PR
0.64
0.51
0.33
MAUTH
Process
OUTCOME
WELLBE
BEHAVE
0.71
0.87
0.34
0.31
RELATE
0.23
0.30
0.20
0.30
0.07
.170
AWARE
0.54
0.73
UNBIASED PR
0.51
0.45
0.32
FAUTH
Process
OUTCOME
WELLBE
BEHAVE
0.61
0.81
RELATE
Chi-Square83.354, df64, P-value0.0525,
RMSEA0.050, CFI0.939
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General Conclusions

• Authenticity is pervasively linked with markers
  of healthy adjustment and well-being, and
  processes associated with their promotion.
• Both dispositional levels of authenticity and
  subjective experiences of authentic functioning
  appear to confer benefits to healthy
  psychological functioning.

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The Purest of Dreams