The Effect of Self-Discrepancies on Emotions and Life Satisfaction

Abstract

David Kaye

Objective: The objective of this study is to look at the effect of self-discrepancies on emotions and life satisfaction.

Design: Questionnaire administration and results analysis design.

Method: 111 male and 170 female subjects completed a collection of questionnaires in order to examine the effect of different self-guides (actual undesired congruent self, actual ideal discrepant-self and actual ought discrepant-self self), on the specific emotions of anger, sadness, enjoyment and life satisfaction, and to examine the relationship between self-con- sciousness, self-monitoring and emotions.

Results: Those people whose actual selves are discrepant from their ought selves are vulnerable to anxiety and related disorders.

Those people whose actual selves are discrepant from their ideal selves are vulnerable to depression, dejection and related disorders.

Finally, those whose actual selves are congruent with their undesirable selves are vulnerable to hopelessness, self-de- structive and suicidal tendencies.

Conclusions: The relationship between the four components of the self and the importance of achieving a balance between these four components will have a significant bearing on what is going on inside our skin. It will determine whether you are prone to symptoms such as anxiety, depression, despair, suicidal ideation and hopelessness or whether you are stable, rational and sound in judgment and thinking.

Reducing your undesirable characteristics on the one hand and striving to reach your ideal self on the other will grad- ually improve our actual self.

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