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.