Priming moral self-ambivalence facilitates cognitive flexibility in young adults

Some evidence has indicated that ambivalent attitudes can influence cognitive processes, leading to increased cognitive flexibility. It is unknown whether self-ambivalence, the simultaneous holding of conflicting self-views, would affect cognitive flexibility. The present research investigated the influence of sub-dimensions of self-ambivalence, including self-worth and moral ambivalence, on cognitive flexibility in young adults. Given that prior research links ambivalence with increased top-down attention, which is thought to promote mental shifting abilities, this study hypothesized that self-ambivalence would promote cognitive flexibility. In Study 1, participants completed the Self-Ambivalence Measure (SAM) questionnaire and the number-letter switching task. Results revealed a significant negative correlation between moral ambivalence and switching costs (RT), while self-worth ambivalence showed no significant correlation with switching costs. Study 2 examined the causal relationship between self-ambivalence and cognitive flexibility by manipulating self-worth and moral ambivalence. Results showed that only moral ambivalence priming reduced switching costs, while self-worth ambivalence priming had no significant effect in studies 2a and 2b. The study found a facilitating effect of moral ambivalence, while there was no significant effect of self-worth ambivalence, which may be because morality is one of the core components of self-concept and that conflict triggers negative emotions as well as deeper cognitive processing.