Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40045815›Full record

ArticleJournal of personality2026

Effects of Reflective Processes on Social-Emotional Trait Development in Adulthood: Insights From Two Multi-Method Studies.

Gabriela Küchler, Kira S A Borgdorf, Corina Aguilar-Raab, Cornelia Wrzus

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of personality, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Gabriela KüchlerDepartment of Psychological Aging Research, Psychological Institute, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5528-4958
Kira S A BorgdorfClinical Psychology, Interaction- and Psychotherapy Research, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1621-0876
Corina Aguilar-RaabClinical Psychology, Interaction- and Psychotherapy Research, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9956-7047
Cornelia WrzusDepartment of Psychological Aging Research, Psychological Institute, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6290-959X

Funding

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis research investigates how reflective processes, such as past-temporal and social comparisons, enhance changes in explicit and implicit self-concepts of social-emotional traits and whether these effects differ with age.

methodWe conducted two preregistered multi-method studies to examine whether past-temporal or social comparisons predict changes in emotional stability and extraversion. In the longitudinal study (N = 615, aged 18-84 years), we assessed the frequency of past-temporal and social comparisons, explicit and implicit self-concepts of emotional stability and extraversion at two measuring points 6 months apart. In the experimental study (N = 231, aged 18-93 years), we elicited trait-relevant behavioral changes, manipulated past-temporal versus social comparisons, and assessed explicit and implicit trait self-concepts before and after the manipulation.

resultsPast-temporal and social comparisons predicted longitudinal changes in the explicit self-concept of emotional stability but not extraversion. The experimental study indicated changes in explicit self-concepts of both traits, regardless of the type of comparison standard. Neither type of comparison predicted changes in implicit self-concepts. The findings were generalizable across age groups.

conclusionsThis research provides the first evidence that comparisons facilitate the change of explicit but not implicit trait self-concepts. We discuss short-term mechanisms of personality development and future directions for examining them experimentally.

Indexed as

EmotionsExtraversion, PsychologicalPersonalitySelf ConceptSocial PerceptionAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedYoung AdultBig FivecomparisonsexperimentIATlongitudinal personality developmentreflective processes

Identifiers

PMID40045815
PMCPMC12780306

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.