Adolescent self-monitoring

Self-monitoring attributes of 239 adolescents were studied from the viewpoint of providing psychologists and educators with insight into impression management both as a facilitator of youths' development, especially with regard to identity formation, and as a possible detriment due to its overuse in a defensive posture. Adolescents highly adept at self-monitoring displayed social competencies most related to interpersonal adequacy, poise and ascendance; however, medium levels of self-monitoring were associated most with interpersonal values, maturity, and responsibility. It is suggested that high self-monitors may sacrifice concern for others in the interest of self-serving attitudes. Adolescents low in self-esteem are likely to use self-monitoring techniques as a defense against inadequate feelings. Generally, self-monitoring attributes were related mainly to social, rather than intellectual characteristics. In contrast to past research, the use of moderate self-monitoring levels along with sex and self-esteem as variables, provided a means of examining some variation in the adaptive uses of self-monitoring not heretofore observed.     

Obese-normal differences in the self-monitoring of expressive behavior

Several recent studies have found that while the behavior of normal weight individuals is primarily determined by internal cues, the behavior of the obese is chiefly controlled by external or environmental cues. The present study sought to generalize this finding to the self-monitoring of expressive behavior. Specifically, it was predicted that obese persons would tend to be high in the self-monitoring of their expressive behavior while individuals of normal weight would tend to monitor their expressive behavior to a lesser extent. This hypothesis was strongly supported. The findings are discussed both in terms of further extending the Schachterian model and in terms of the obese as a deviant population.     

The implicit theories approach to the self-monitoring controversy

In the face of uncertainty and disagreement about the meaning and measurement of the self-monitoring construct, the author proposes an implicit theories approach to shed light on what self-monitoring scales may be tapping. The first study explored people's notions of what high and low self-monitors are like, based on the statements in the 18-item Self-Monitoring Scale (Gangestad and Snyder, 1985). The second study compared that measure with Lennox and Wolfe's (1984) Revised Self-Monitoring Scale and examined defensive motivation within the scales. The third study consisted of two experiments to determine whether subjects perceived the items of Gangestad and Snyder's Self-Monitoring Scale as reflecting a unitary latent entity or separate, contradictory variables. It was concluded that the implicit theories approach appears to be a useful complement to traditional factor analytic studies, providing new ways of looking at a personality construct, clarifying some theoretical issues, and generating hypotheses for future research.     

The effects of self-monitoring on the expressive display of masculinity-femininity

Do self-monitoring processes influence (1) the correspondence between assessed personality and expressive masculinity-femininity, and (2) the cross-channel consistency (face, body, voice) of expressive masculinity-femininity? To answer these questions, 36 male and 36 females completed the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI) and Snyder's Self-Monitoring Scale, and then were videotaped as teachers. Five groups of naive judges rated these stimulus subjects on expressive masculinity-femininity, basing their respective ratings on: video pictures and voices, just pictures, just faces, just bodies, or just voices. A sixth group of judges rated subjects on physical attractiveness. The results indicated that judged physical attractiveness was significantly correlated with judged masculinity-femininity, with men being judged more masculine and females more feminine the more attractive they were. BSRI femininity correlated strongly with judged masculinity-femininity, and BSRI masculinity, less so. Finally, self-monitoring did prove to moderate the correspondence between personality and expressive behavior, and the cross-channel consistency of masculinity-femininity cues: however, these moderating effects were different for males and females.     

Effects of expectancy of outcome on the reactivity of self-monitoring

The present study investigated the effects of subjects' outcome expectancy on self-monitoring of a clinically relevant behavior, overeating. In conjunction with self-monitoring of eating habits, subjects received either a positive expectancy of behavior change or no expectancy regarding change. While both self-monitoring groups achieved significantly greater weight loss than controls, subjects in the expectancy group demonstrated significantly greater weight loss than no-expectancy subjects. Possible factors accounting for the disparity in findings between this and previous self-monitoring investigations are discussed.     

Effects of training to increase self-monitoring accuracy

We examined the effects of teaching children to monitor and record their attending behavior accurately. On the basis of their low levels of attention to task and agreement with an observer about their attending, we selected four students from a class of 11, all of whom were practicing self-recording. The classroom teacher trained the students to make their judgments about their attention to task correspond with hers. The accuracy training, which was applied according to a multiple baseline (across subjects) design, produced salutary increases in levels of attention to task. But changes in accuracy of the students' self-recording were small and unstable. Although the procedures used in this study produced high levels of reactivity, they do not support the position that accuracy in self-monitoring is required for reactivity.     

Long-term self-monitoring of weight: a case study

The aim of this study was to examine the self-monitoring of weight on a daily basis over a long period of time in order to understand the process of weight regain. An obese female client measured her weight every morning over a period of 10 years. The subject made a total of 2081 weight measurements. Thus, her weight was measured on 67% of all possible days. After the initial weight loss a pattern of gradual weight gain was observed. The subject gained weight during August and September, and at the end of December, in particular. Furthermore, her weight increased slightly at the weekends. This case study highlights the advantage of self-monitoring of weight on a daily basis. Individual patterns of weight change possibly associated with season and weekly variation may be crucial when obese subjects try to maintain their weight after weight loss. However, it may take several months or even years to detect the weekly and yearly rhythms or other patterns in the data. Thus, self-control of weight is problematic, since patterns in the weight regain process are difficult to detect. This may be one reason why self-control of weight is so difficult.     

Revision Without Revision Sequences: Self-Referential Truth

Journal of Philosophical Logic - The model of self-referential truth presented in this paper, named Revision-theoretic supervaluation, aims to incorporate the philosophical insights of Gupta and...     

Attitudes, self-monitoring, and appraisal behaviors

This study examined the influence of attitudes and self-monitoring on leniency (elevation accuracy) of performance ratings and personnel decisions. In addition, moderating effects of self-monitoring on the relationship between attitudes and accuracy of ratings and decisions were investigated. Attitudes and self-monitoring tendency of 210 managers-professionals were measured, and ratings provided and decisions made by them were used to test 3 sets of hypotheses. Moderated regression and follow-up split-group analyses indicated that self-monitoring moderated the relationship between attitudes toward accurate appraisal and rating accuracy. Self-monitoring significantly influenced rating and decision accuracy such that accuracy declined with increasing level of self-monitoring. Results highlight the influence of rater's personality on appraisal behaviors. Implications of results and directions for future research are discussed.