Our publications : Self Affirmation Research Group (SARG) : University of Sussex

As you can see below, we are highly active in our research into self-affirmation. If you’d like to discuss any of our publications then we’d love to hear from you, so please get in touch with the relevant member of our team or email SARG@sussex.ac.uk.

Key publications

Self-affirmation theory in educational contexts. Easterbrook, M. J., Harris, P. R., & Sherman, D. K. (2021). Journal of Social Issues. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12459 Note: This is an introduction to a special issue of the Journal of Social Issues on self-affirmation in educational contexts. A full list of the papers in this special issue is here.

Tackling Educational Inequalities with Social Psychology: Identities, Contexts, and Interventions. Easterbrook, M. J., & Hadden, I. R. (2020). Social Issues and Policy Review. https://doi.org/10.1111/sipr.12070

Self-affirmation reduces the socioeconomic attainment gap in schools in England. Hadden, I. R., Easterbrook, M. J., Nieuwenhuis, M., Fox, K. J., & Dolan, P. (2020). British Journal of Educational Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjep.12291

Individual differences in self-affirmation: Distinguishing self-affirmation from positive self-regard. Harris, P. R., Griffin, D. W., Napper, L. E., Bond, R., Schüz, B., Stride, C., & Brearley, I. (2018). Self and Identity. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2018.1504819

Experimentally Manipulated Self-Affirmation Promotes Reduced Alcohol Consumption in Response to Narrative Information. Fox, K. J., Harris, P. R., & Jessop, D. C. (2017). Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 51(6), 931–935. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-017-9912-2

Health Psychology The Impact of Self-Affirmation on Health-Behavior Change : A Meta-Analysis. Epton, T., Harris, P. R., Kane, R., & van Koningsbruggen, G. M. (2014). Health Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000116

Health

2019

Self-affirmation effects on doping related cognition among exercisers who use nutritional supplements. Barkoukis, V., Rowe, R., Harris, P. R., & Lazuras, L. (In press). Psychology of Sport & Exercise.

Coping with stress: A pilot study of a self-help stress management intervention for patients with epileptic or psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Novakova, B., Harris, P. R., Rawlings, G. H., & Reuber, M. (2019). Epilepsy and Behavior, 94, 169–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.03.002

2018

Can self-affirmation exacerbate adverse reactions to stress under certain conditions? Jessop, D. C., Ayers, S., Burn, F., & Ryda, C. (2018). Psychology and Health, 33(7), 827–845. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2017.1421187

Self-affirmation improves self-control over snacking among participants low in eating self-efficacy. Churchill, S., Jessop, D. C., Green, R., & Harris, P. R. (2018). Appetite, 123, 264–268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2017.12.028

A randomized controlled trial of a brief online intervention to reduce alcohol consumption in new university students: Combining self-affirmation, theory of planned behaviour messages, and implementation intentions. Norman, P., Cameron, D., Epton, T., Webb, T. L., Harris, P. R., Millings, A., & Sheeran, P. (2018). British Journal of Health Psychology, 23, 108–127.

2017

Interest in and reactions to genetic risk information: The role of implicit theories and self-affirmation. Taber, J. M., Klein, W. M. P., Persky, S., Ferrer, R. A., Kaufman, A. R., Thai, C. L., & Harris, P. R. (2017). Social Science and Medicine, 190, 101–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.08.010

2016

Associations of spontaneous self-affirmation with health care experiences and health information seeking in a national survey of US adults. Taber, J. M., Howell, J. L., Emanuel, A. S., Klein, W. M. P., Ferrer, R. A., & Harris, P. R. (2016). Psychology and Health, 31, 292–309. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2015.1085986

Processing of alcohol-related health threat in at-risk drinkers: An online study of gender-related self-affirmation effects. Kamboj, S. K., Place, H., Barton, J. A., Linke, S., Curran, H. V., & Harris, P. R. (2016). Alcohol and Alcoholism, 51(6), 756–762. https://doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agw013

Self-Affirmation Before Exposure to Health Communications Promotes Intentions and Health Behavior Change by Increasing Anticipated Regret. van Koningsbruggen, G. M., Harris, P. R., Smits, A. J., Schüz, B., Scholz, U., & Cooke, R. (2016). Communication Research, 43(8), 1027–1044. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093650214555180

Does self-affirmation following ego depletion moderate restrained eaters’ explicit preferences for, and implicit associations with, high-calorie foods?Storr, S. M., & Sparks, P. (2016). Psychology and Health, 31(7), 840–856. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2016.1149585

Spontaneous self-affirmation is associated with psychological well-being: Evidence from a US national adult survey sample. Emanuel, A. S., Howell, J. L., Taber, J. M., Ferrer, R. A., Klein, W. M. P., & Harris, P. R. (2016). Journal of Health Psychology, (May), 1359105316643595. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105316643595

Online Self-Affirmation Increases Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Groups at High Risk of Low Intake. Fielden, A. L., Sillence, E., Little, L., & Harris, P. R. (2016). Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 8(1), 3–18. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12059

Self-Affirmation Activates the Ventral Striatum: A Possible Reward-Related Mechanism for Self-Affirmation. Dutcher, J. M., Creswell, J. D., Pacilio, L. E., Harris, P. R., Klein, W. M. P., Levine, J. M., … Eisenberger, N. I. (2016). Psychological Science, 27(4), 455–466. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797615625989

Morality or competence? The importance of affirming the appropriate dimension of self-integrity. Jessop, D. C., Sparks, P., Jessop, L., Dodds, L., & Lynch, S. (2016). British Journal of Health Psychology, 21(4), 956–972. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12209

Attentional effects of self-affirmation in response to graphic antismoking images. Kessels, L. T. E., Harris, P. R., Ruiter, R. A. C., & Klein, W. M. P. (2016). Health Psychology : Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, 35(8), 891–897. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000366

2015

Health messaging to individuals who perceive ambiguity in health communications: The promise of self-affirmation. Klein, W. M. P., Hamilton, J. G., Harris, P. R., & Han, P. K. J. (2015). Journal of Health Communication, 20(5), 566–572. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2014.999892

Optimism and Spontaneous Self-affirmation are Associated with Lower Likelihood of Cognitive Impairment and Greater Positive Affect among Cancer Survivors.Taber, J. M., Klein, W. M. P., Ferrer, R. A., Kent, E. E., & Harris, P. R. (2015). Annals of Behavioral Medicine : A Publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-015-9745-9

Open-mindedness can decrease persuasion amongst adolescents: The role of self-affirmation. Good, A., Harris, P. R., Jessop, D. C., & Abraham, C. (2015). British Journal of Health Psychology, 20(2), 228–242. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12090

The role of current affect, anticipated affect and spontaneous self-affirmation in decisions to receive self-threatening genetic risk information. Ferrer, R. A., Taber, J. M., Klein, W. M. P., Harris, P. R., Lewis, K. L., & Biesecker, L. G. (2015). Cognition and Emotion, 29(8), 1456–1465. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2014.985188

The effects of self-affirmation manipulation on decision making about doping use in elite athletes. Barkoukis, V., Lazuras, L., & Harris, P. R. (2015). Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 16(P2), 175–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2014.02.003

Smoke-free air laws and quit attempts: Evidence for a moderating role of spontaneous self-affirmation. Persoskie, A., Ferrer, R. A., Taber, J. M., Klein, W. M. P., Parascandola, M., & Harris, P. R. (2015). Social Science and Medicine, 141, 46–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.07.015

Evidence that brief self-affirming implementation intentions can reduce work-related anxiety in downsize survivors. Morgan, J. I., & Harris, P. R. (2015). Anxiety, Stress and Coping, 28(5), 563–575. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2015.1004665

The moderating impact of self-esteem on self-affirmation effects. Düring, C., & Jessop, D. C. (2015). British Journal of Health Psychology, 20(2), 274–289. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12097

Earlier

Combining self-affirmation with implementation intentions to promote fruit and vegetable consumption.Harris, P. R., Brearley, I., Sheeran, P., Barker, M., Klein, W. M. P., Creswell, J. D., … Bond, R. (2014). Health Psychology, 33(7), 729–736. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000065

Combining Self-Affirmation With the Extended Parallel Process Model: The Consequences for Motivation to Eat More Fruit and Vegetables. Napper, L. E., Harris, P. R., & Klein, W. M. P. (2014). Health Communication, 29(6), 610–618. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2013.791962

Combining self-affirmation and implementation intentions: Evidence of detrimental effects on behavioral outcomes. Jessop, D. C., Sparks, P., Buckland, N., Harris, P. R., & Churchill, S. (2014). Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 47(2), 137–147. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-013-9536-0

Self-Affirmation Promotes Physical Activity. Cooke, R., Trebaczyk, H., Harris, P. R., & Wright, A. J. (2014). Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 36(2), 217–223. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2013-0041

A brief psychological intervention that reduces adolescent alcohol consumption. Armitage, C. J., Rowe, R., Arden, M. A., & Harris, P. R. (2014). Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 82(3), 546–550. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035802

Calibrating the Response to Health Warnings: Limiting both overreaction and underreaction with self-affirmation. Griffin, D., & Harris, P. R. (2013). Psychological Science, 0–34. https://doi.org/10.3837/tiis.0000.00.000

Autonomy and defensiveness: experimentally increasing adaptive responses to health-risk information via priming and self-affirmation.Pavey, L. J., & Sparks, P. (2012). Psychology & Health, 27(3), 259–276. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2011.556251

Evidence That Self-Affirmation Reduces Alcohol Consumption: Randomized Exploratory Trial With a New, Brief Means of Self-Affirming. Armitage, C. J., Harris, P. R., & Arden, M. A. (2011). Health Psychology, 30(5), 633–641. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023738

Self-affirmation and the self-regulation of health behavior change. Harris, P. R. (2011). Self and Identity, 10(3), 304–314. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2010.517963

Feelings of vulnerability in response to threatening messages: Effects of self-affirmation. Klein, W. M. P., Harris, P. R., Ferrer, R. A., & Zajac, L. E. (2011). Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 47(6), 1237–1242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2011.05.005

Motivational and behavioural consequences of self-affirmation interventions: A study of sunscreen use among women. Jessop, D. C., Simmonds, L. V., & Sparks, P. (2009). Psychology and Health, 24(5), 529–544. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870440801930320

Self-affirmation enhances attentional bias toward threatening components of a persuasive message. Klein, W. M. P., & Harris, P. R. (2009). Psychological Science, 20(12), 1463–1467. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02467.x

Self-Affirmation Promotes Health Behavior Change. Epton, T., & Harris, P. R. (2008). Health Psychology, 27(6), 746–752. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.27.6.746

Self-Affirmation Increases Acceptance of Health-Risk Information Among UK Adult Smokers With Low Socioeconomic Status. Armitage, C. J., Harris, P. R., Hepton, G., & Napper, L. E. (2008). Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 22(1), 88–95. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-164X.22.1.88

Self-Affirmation Reduces Smokers’ Defensiveness to Graphic On-Pack Cigarette Warning Labels. Harris, P. R., Mayle, K., Mabbott, L., & Napper, L. E. (2007). Health Psychology, 26(4), 437–446. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.26.4.437

Self-affirmation and the biased processing of threatening health-risk information. Harris, P. R., & Napper, L. E. (2005). Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 31(9), 1250–1263. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167205274694

The impact of financial circumstances on student health. Jessop, D. C., Herberts, C., & Solomon, L. (2005). British Journal of Health Psychology, 10(3), 421–439. https://doi.org/10.1348/135910705X25480

Education

2020

2019

Identities in context: How social class shapes inequalities in education. Easterbrook, M. J., Hadden, I. R., & Nieuwenhuis, M. (2019). In J. Jetten & K. Peters (Eds.), The Social Psychology of Inequality. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28856-3_7

Socioeconomic status and the structure of the self-concept. Easterbrook, M. J., Kuppens, T., & Manstead, A. S. R. (2019). British Journal of Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12334

Accounting for unequal access to higher education: The role of social identity factors. Nieuwenhuis, M., Manstead, A. S. R., & Easterbrook, M. J. (2019). Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 22(3), 371–389. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430219829824

Earlier

Educationism and the irony of meritocracy: Negative attitudes of higher educated people towards the less educated. Kuppens, T., Spears, R., Manstead, A. S. R., Spruyt, B., & Easterbrook, M. J. (2017). Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, (October), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2017.11.001

The Education Effect: Higher Educational Qualifications are Robustly Associated with Beneficial Personal and Socio-political Outcomes. Easterbrook, M. J., Kuppens, T., & Manstead, A. S. R. (2016). Social Indicators Research, 126, 1261–1298. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-015-0946-1

Life at Both Ends of the Ladder: Education-Based Identification and Its Association With Well-Being and Social Attitudes. Kuppens, T., Easterbrook, M. J., Spears, R., & Manstead, A. S. R. (2015). Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 41(9), 1260–1275. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167215594122

Environment

Attenuating initial beliefs: Increasing the acceptance of anthropogenic climate change information by reflecting on values. van Prooijen, A.-M., & Sparks, P. (2014). Risk Analysis, 34(5), 929–936. https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.12152

Promoting or Jeopardizing Lighter Carbon Footprints? Self-Affirmation Can Polarize Environmental Orientations. van Prooijen, A. M., Sparks, P., & Jessop, D. C. (2013). Social Psychological and Personality Science, 4(2), 238–243. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550612450465

Pro-environmental actions, climate change, and defensiveness: Do self-affirmations make a difference to people’s motives and beliefs about making a difference? Sparks, P., Jessop, D. C., Chapman, J., & Holmes, K. (2010). British Journal of Social Psychology, 49(3), 553–568. https://doi.org/10.1348/014466609X471976

Other domains and general contributions

Self-affirmation improves music performance among performers high on the impulsivity dimension of sensation seeking. Churchill, S., Jessop, D. C., Goodwin, S., Ritchie, L., & Harris, P. R. (2018). Psychology of Music, 46(2).

Self-affirmation improves performance on tasks related to executive functioning. Harris, P. S., Harris, P. R., & Miles, E. (2017). Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 70, 281–285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2016.11.011

Beyond Self-Protection: Self-Affirmation Benefits Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being. Nelson, S. K., Fuller, J. A. K., Choi, I., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2014). Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 40(8), 998–1011. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167214533389

Effects of self-affirmation on implementation intentions and the moderating role of affect. Ferrer, R. A., Shmueli, D., Bergman, H. E., Harris, P. R., & Klein, W. M. P. (2012). Social Psychological and Personality Science, 3(3), 300–307. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550611419265

Self-affirmation moderates effects of unrealistic optimism and pessimism on reactions to tailored risk feedback. Klein, W. M. P., Lipkus, I. M., Scholl, S. M., McQueen, A., Cerully, J. L., & Harris, P. R. (2010). Psychology and Health, 25(10), 1195–1208. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870440903261970

Developing and Testing a Self-affirmation Manipulation. Napper, L. E., Harris, P. R., & Epton, T. (2009). Self and Identity, 8(1), 45–62. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860802079786