Relative autonomy and excuse-making: how do excuses affect commitment to exercise goals?
| dc.contributor.author | Thacher, Tara May | |
| dc.contributor.examiningcommittee | Kriellaars, Dean (Medical Rehabilitation) Sande, Gerald (Psychology) | en |
| dc.contributor.supervisor | Bailis, Daniel (Psychology) | en |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2009-11-09T20:19:29Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2009-11-09T20:19:29Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2009-11-09T20:19:29Z | |
| dc.degree.discipline | Psychology | en_US |
| dc.degree.level | Master of Arts (M.A.) | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | In this thesis, I proposed that individuals high in relative autonomy toward exercise would make fewer excuses for personal goal failures and that endorsement of certain types of excuses would foster commitment/internalization toward exercise, limiting future excuse-making. Excuses were expected to vary in effectiveness at removing culpability and enhancing commitment. In 3 studies, relative autonomy was measured or primed. Participants considered past personal goal failures, and sometimes provided excuses, and in one study, participants received expert excuse tolerant/intolerant feedback. Contrary to predictions, excuse-making was similar across all levels of relative autonomy. The results showed, however, that (a) some excuses effectively remove culpability for failure and maintain commitment to exercise goals; (b) such excuses are used more frequently than their less effective counterparts and that this selective may be stronger for those high in relative autonomy toward exercise; and (c) an excuse-tolerant social environment can foster commitment/internalization of exercise goals. | en |
| dc.description.note | February 2010 | en |
| dc.format.extent | 2614206 bytes | |
| dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/1993/3225 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | en_US |
| dc.rights | open access | en_US |
| dc.subject | Self-determination theory | en |
| dc.subject | Excuses | en |
| dc.subject | Goals | en |
| dc.subject | Impression management | en |
| dc.subject | Exercise | en |
| dc.title | Relative autonomy and excuse-making: how do excuses affect commitment to exercise goals? | en |
| dc.type | master thesis | en_US |