Abstract
According to Identity Theory, individuals react differently when they perceive their behaviour to be consistent versus inconsistent with their identity. Inconsistent judgments are associated with negative affect, decreased self-efficacy and motivation for identity-relevant behaviour; consistent judgments are associated with low negative affect, enhanced self-efficacy and maintained motivation. Strength of identity influences the magnitude of reactions. This study compared individuals' reactions to judgments of exercise identity-behaviour consistency and inconsistency. Participants in this 2 (consistency judgement) x 2 (high/low exercise identity) factorial design were 79 university students who judged themselves as consistent and inconsistent with their identity at two different time points. At both times, participants completed measures of exercise identity, self-efficacy, affect, intentions for exercise, past exercise and perceptions of consistency. MANOVA procedures revealed significant judgment (p < .001) and identity main effects (p < .001). Consistency judgments were associated with greater percent consistency, past exercise, and self-efficacy for future exercise than were inconsistency judgments (p's < .04). High exercise identity individuals reported more exercise and greater self-efficacy than low identity individuals (p's <. 001). An interaction was also detected (p <.02). Individuals reported greater negative affect when they judged themselves to be inconsistent than consistent and this effect was stronger for high identity individuals (p < .001). Also, while high identity individuals reported similar intentions for exercise regardless of their consistency judgment, low identity people reported greater intentions when they judged themselves to be consistent (p < .09). Findings support Identity Theory predictions in the context of exercise.Acknowledgments: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)