The Effects of Evaluative and Accepting Feedback from Significant Others on Self-Discrepancies

Abstract

This study examined how feedback from significant others affected self-discrepancies between three self-guides (ideal, ought, and undesired selves) and the actual self among 301 university students. Using a latent change model, we investigated whether depression and anxiety changed with self-discrepancy changes, and whether baseline self-discrepancy levels influenced these relationships. Participants completed questionnaires on scenarios involving evaluative and accepting feedback, rating self-discrepancy, and depression/anxiety before and after each feedback type. The results showed that actual-ideal discrepancy in the ideal self-condition (n=93) decreased with both feedback types. Actual-ought discrepancy in the ought self-condition (n=101) remained unchanged with evaluative feedback but decreased with accepting feedback. Actual-undesired congruence in the undesired self-condition (n=107) remained unchanged with evaluative feedback but increased with accepting feedback. These findings demonstrate that effective feedback types differ depending on self-guide characteristics.