Interpersonal Identity Achievement Accounts for the Link Between Action Control and Self-Informed Realization of the Implicit Affiliation-Intimacy Motive

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between a specific form of self-regulation (i.e., action control) and the dispositional mode of realization of the implicit affiliation-intimacy motive. This mode can either be self-informed or driven by external incentives. It was hypothesized that interpersonal identity achievement mediates the relationship between action control and the self-informed mode of motive realization of the implicit need for affiliation-intimacy. The Operant Multimotive Test, a short version of the Action Control Scale, and the Interpersonal Identity Achievement scale of the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status were administered to 207 university students. A mediation analysis confirmed the hypothesis.

Notes

¹Note that the term motive realization does not imply success at attaining what a person actually strives for, but refers to any attempt at bringing their behavior and actions in line with their motives.

*p < .05. **p < .01.

²Given these associations, we reran all subsequent mediation analyses with variables (action control and interpersonal identity achievement) controlled for age and gender. Results did not differ from the reported findings.

³In additional exploratory analyses, we used interpersonal identity foreclosure, moratorium, and diffusion, respectively, to replace interpersonal identity achievement as the mediating variable. However, we did not find a mediation effect for any of these statuses.