allen r. mcconnell research


	Overview \| Lab \| Support & Awards \| Details \| Photos Currently, we are conducting three major lines of research in my lab: self-concept representation, implicit and explicit attitudes, and stereotype threat. Self-concept and its implications A great deal of research in our lab has explored the information processing mechanisms involved in self-concept formation, and this work has been supported by three different NIMH grants. One line of work has examined how we form self-concepts (McConnell et al., 2002). For example, we found that people expect considerable consistency in their own behaviors and that these expectations lead them to form elaborative, highly-integrative self-concepts in many situations. Our more recent research explores the implications of self-concept organization and how its structure mediates affective responses to everyday events. In particular, we have focused on how those greater in self-complexity (i.e., those with more self-identites that are relatively unique in nature) deal with stress and life events. For instance, our work has shown that having many different self-identites (i.e., self-aspects) may leave people feeling “stretched too thin,” especially when they do not possess a great degree of control over their self-aspects, resulting in greater depression and more stress-related illnesses (McConnell et al., 2005). Also, we found that following failure, those lower in self-complexity (i.e., those with fewer and more interrelated self-identites) show stronger rebound effects (i.e., they are more likely to ruminate about unwanted thoughts, in this case, an academic failure) than those who are greater self-complexity (Renaud & McConnell, 2002). In addition to studying the consequences of self-concept organization, we have been refining the measurement and cognitive underpinnings of self-complexity, using Associated Systems Theory as a framework (Schleicher & McConnell, 2005). Finally, we have investigated how beliefs about the nature of personality (i.e., implicit theories) moderate the link between not meeting one's goals and its impact on self-esteem (Renaud & McConnell, 2007). Relevant publications McConnell, A. R., & Strain, L. M. (2007). Content and structure of the self. In C. Sedikides & S. Spencer (Eds.) The self in social psychology (pp. 51-73). New York: Psychology Press. Renaud, J. M., & McConnell, A. R. (2007). Wanting to be better but thinking you can't: Implicit theories of personality moderate the impact of self-discrepancies on self-esteem. Self and Identity, 6, 41-50 McConnell, A. R., Renaud, J. M., Dean, K. K., Green, S. P., Lamoreaux, M. J., Hall, C. E., & Rydell, R. J. (2005). Whose self is it anyway? Self-aspect control moderates the relation between self-complexity and well-being. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 41, 1-18. Schleicher, D. J., & McConnell, A. R. (2005). The complexity of self-complexity: An Associated Systems Theory approach. Social Cognition, 23, 387-416. McConnell, A. R., Rydell, R. J., & Leibold, J. M. (2002). Expectations of consistency about the self: Consequences for self-concept formation. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 38, 569-585. Renaud, J. M., & McConnell, A. R. (2002). Organization of the self-concept and the suppression of self-relevant thoughts. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 38, 79-86.

Overview | Lab | Support & Awards | Details | Photos

Currently, we are conducting three major lines of research in my lab: self-concept representation, implicit and explicit attitudes, and stereotype threat.

Self-concept and its implications

A great deal of research in our lab has explored the information processing mechanisms involved in self-concept formation, and this work has been supported by three different NIMH grants. One line of work has examined how we form self-concepts (McConnell et al., 2002). For example, we found that people expect considerable consistency in their own behaviors and that these expectations lead them to form elaborative, highly-integrative self-concepts in many situations.

Our more recent research explores the implications of self-concept organization and how its structure mediates affective responses to everyday events. In particular, we have focused on how those greater in self-complexity (i.e., those with more self-identites that are relatively unique in nature) deal with stress and life events. For instance, our work has shown that having many different self-identites (i.e., self-aspects) may leave people feeling “stretched too thin,” especially when they do not possess a great degree of control over their self-aspects, resulting in greater depression and more stress-related illnesses (McConnell et al., 2005). Also, we found that following failure, those lower in self-complexity (i.e., those with fewer and more interrelated self-identites) show stronger rebound effects (i.e., they are more likely to ruminate about unwanted thoughts, in this case, an academic failure) than those who are greater self-complexity (Renaud & McConnell, 2002). In addition to studying the consequences of self-concept organization, we have been refining the measurement and cognitive underpinnings of self-complexity, using Associated Systems Theory as a framework (Schleicher & McConnell, 2005). Finally, we have investigated how beliefs about the nature of personality (i.e., implicit theories) moderate the link between not meeting one's goals and its impact on self-esteem (Renaud & McConnell, 2007).

Relevant publications

McConnell, A. R., & Strain, L. M. (2007). Content and structure of the self. In C. Sedikides & S. Spencer (Eds.) The self in social psychology (pp. 51-73). New York: Psychology Press.

Renaud, J. M., & McConnell, A. R. (2007). Wanting to be better but thinking you can't: Implicit theories of personality moderate the impact of self-discrepancies on self-esteem. Self and Identity, 6, 41-50

McConnell, A. R., Renaud, J. M., Dean, K. K., Green, S. P., Lamoreaux, M. J., Hall, C. E., & Rydell, R. J. (2005). Whose self is it anyway? Self-aspect control moderates the relation between self-complexity and well-being. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 41, 1-18.

Schleicher, D. J., & McConnell, A. R. (2005). The complexity of self-complexity: An Associated Systems Theory approach. Social Cognition, 23, 387-416.

McConnell, A. R., Rydell, R. J., & Leibold, J. M. (2002). Expectations of consistency about the self: Consequences for self-concept formation. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 38, 569-585.

Renaud, J. M., & McConnell, A. R. (2002). Organization of the self-concept and the suppression of self-relevant thoughts. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 38, 79-86.