Popularity Motivation: An Initial Investigation (Poster 13)

• In Event: Sunday Poster Session 3:05 pm
  In Poster Session: Perspectives on Learning and Development: Exploring Motivations, Cognition, and Contextual Factors

Abstract

This study examined adolescents' motivational constructs related to gaining/changing popularity and likeability and other social status factors. Sampling 280 secondary students from a single urban school, it examined psychometric properties of four popularity motivation scales (self-efficacy/mindset for popularity/likability) and investigated the scales’ construct validity and relationship with adolescents’ social status goals and self-beliefs. Results confirmed four distinct motivational dimensions exist related to popularity that correspond with various social status goals and self-beliefs. This suggests adolescents’ motivations for changing popularity/likability align with other social status factors. It also found mindset for popularity/likability had limited associations with other social status self-beliefs, indicating belief in capacity to change popularity/likability may be less impactful than self-efficacy on overall social status perceptions.

Authors

• Lindsey H Jurgensen, University of New Mexico

• Martin H. Jones, University College Cork

• Katja Košir, University of Maribor