Are You My Role Model? How Role Model Similarity Affects Motivation

The purpose of this study was to examine how to best utilize role models for motivation. In an expansion of Lockwood, Jordan, and Kunda's (2002) study, I tested the effects of regulatory goal focus (RGF) congruence on motivation, and of participant and role model demographic similarity. Based on Self-Categorization theory, I expected similarity to be more motivating. By manipulating regulatory goal focus (promotion or prevention), role model type (positive or negative), and demographic similarity between participants and role models, I could test exactly how each of these variables affect motivation. Demographically similar and RGF congruent role models (promotion goal focus paired with positive role models and prevention goal focus paired with negative role models) did not yield higher motivation scores. Instead, those who were either promotion primed or assigned a positive role model were most motivated. I also expected those high in Openness to be less affected by dissimilarity but found only Openness to be positively related to motivation scores. While these results were counter to Lockwood et al.’s (2002) results and expectations set by Self-Categorization theory, it is possible that the diverse, urban, Southern university student population was already used to sex and gender differences in role models to the point that identification with role models was made based on a subordinate-level of categorization, such status as a student. This study should be replicated at a less diverse university to test this conclusion and investigate the lack of evidence we found for Lockwood et al.’s (2002) RGF congruence hypothesis.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology, Industrial and Organizational

Grantor

University of Houston

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Brothers, Sara Ann

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Penney, Lisa M.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Witt, L. Alan
• Kieffer, Suzanne C.
• Smith, Mark

• Motivation
• Role models
• Race and Gender

Statement dc:rights

• The author of this work is the copyright owner. UH Libraries and the Texas Digital Library have their permission to store and provide access to this work. Further transmission, reproduction, or presentation of this work is prohibited except with permission of the author(s).

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10657/3632

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uh-ir.tdl.org:10657/3632