Determinants of selective memory about the self

Investigated the influence of success and failure experiences and expectancies (on an ability task) on selective memory for positive vs negative personality information about oneself. Success-failure experiences and expectancies were manipulated independently in all combinations. Ss were 90 undergraduates. Thereafter, each S was exposed to an equal extent to positive and negative information about his personality and then tested for memory of that information. As predicted, Ss correctly remembered their personality liabilities relatively less than their assets when they expected to succeed than when they expected to fail on an ability test or when they had no relevant expectancy (control). Also, as predicted from cognitive social learning theory, the effects of expectancy overshadowed those of experience. Correlations with data from Byrne's Repression-Sensitization Scale and Rotter's Internal-External Control Scale are discussed. (31 ref)