Self-discrepancy and chronic social self-consciousness: Unique and interactive effects of gender and real-ought discrepancy

Drawing on theories of self-discrepancy and self-focused attention, two studies tested the associations between self-discrepancy and chronic social self-consciousness (CSSC), a trait-like view of the self as a social object. In Study 1, hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that real/own-ought/other discrepancy was uniquely associated with CSSC independent of impression management, neuroticism, and real/own-ideal/own discrepancy among women but not men. In Study 2, the unique relation between real/own-ought/other discrepancy and CSSC was replicated in a larger sample of women after controlling several robust competing variables including the importance of physical appearance. Discussion considers real/own-ought/other discrepancy as a unique psychological predictor of taking a chronic view of the self as a social object among women.