Psychology and its Contexts (Jan 2016)
Compliance with resolution and reasoning of its violation
Abstract
The aim of the presented research is to confirm if it is possible to consider selfhandicapping and self-licensing as reasoning strategies of resolution violation in the process of resisting temptation. We have tried to confirm the existence of significant relationship and the possibility of prediction of resistance in compliance with resolutions, self-handicapping and self-licensing. We understand resolution as goal intention initiated and set by individual for himself/herself. Then, resistance in compliance with resolutions refers to high level of self-control and willpower in pursuing and attaining specific kind of goals or intentions – resolutions. It is the resistance to situational influences causing impulsive behavior. Self-handicapping is the self-protective strategy known as using of situational circumstances for excusing poor achievement. The third discussed term is self- licensing occuring when past moral behavior makes people more likely to do potentially immoral things without worrying about feeling or appearing immoral. We have used the sample of 121 university students aged from 18 to 30 years (average age = 22,2 years, standard deviation = 2,2). To measure the variables we have used three questionnaires, the questionnaire of Resistance in compliance with resolutions (Lovaš, Čopková, 2012), translated version of Self-Handicapping Scale (Jones, Rhodewalt, 1982) and Self- Licensing questionnaire constructed for the purpose of this research. We have supposed negative relationship between resistance in complinace with resolutions and both kinds of reasoning strategies of resolution violation. The Pearson correlation analysis has shown that there are significant negative relationship between variables of resistance in compliance with resolutions and self-handicapping (-0,332) (significance level p<0,01). The less significant negative relationship is between resistance in compliance with resolutions and self-licensing (-0,129). The regression analysis didn´t confirm the prediction power of our model (R2 = 0,112), but we can consider self-handicapping as better predictor of resistance in compliance with resolutions (p = 0,001) than selflicensing (p = 0,705). We have also been interested in internal consistency and other psychometric characteristics of questionnaires. The Cronbach´s alpha (CA) was used as indicator of internal consistency. The value of Cronbach´s alphafor questionnaire for Resistance in complince with resolutions was 0,846, for Slovak version of Selfhandicapping Scale 0,776 and for Self-Licensing questionnaire 0,746. We have run used questionnaures under the factor analysis and we identified three factors in each of questionnaires. In Self-Handicapping scale we have found factors: Behavioral Self- Handicapping (CA = 0,756), Claimed Self-Handicapping (CA = 0,628) and Emotions (CA = 0,724). In Self-Licensing questionnaire we have found Reward (CA = 0,732) , Resignation (CA = 0,699) and Compensation (CA = 0,584). Acquisition of our research consists in enriching self-regulation and self-control research because of using goaldirected behavior perspective, sepcifically the perspective of setting and attaining specific goals – resolutions.
