Humility and Construal Level

Abstract

The current study investigated the effects of humility on construal level, which is a measure of the extent to which one thinks abstractly or concretely. Existing research demonstrates an association between humility and increased self-control. Researchers have also suggested that humility can lessen the impacts of ego threats (Tong, Tan Chor, Koh, Lee, & Tan, 2015). However, no research findings have been able to demonstrate a mechanism for these associations. Borrowing from the literature on self-affirmation (thinking positively about oneself), the current study examined if construal level is a mediator factor after a humility manipulation. Research done on self-affirmation associates self-affirmation with increased self-control and a less impacted ego, with high-level construal (abstract thought) being a possible mediator (Schmeichel & Vohs, 2009). Since humility and self-affirmation are both associated with decreased impacts of ego threats and increased self-control, it is likely that humility will be associated with high-level construal as well. Following this train of thought, the current study aimed to evaluate the role of participants' construal level following a humility induction. I hypothesized that participants primed with humility would score higher on a Behavior Identification Form (BIF), indicating that they have adopted a higher level of construal. This hypothesis was not supported since construal level did not differ between the humility and control conditions. Keywords: humility, construal level