2020-10, Achtziger, Anja, Bayer, Ute C.

We tested whether self-control, previous grades, IQ, and gender can predict performance in German, English (as a foreign language), and in math after six months. These subjects are often considered as feminine (German, English) or masculine (math). Data was collected from the third and fourth grades (N = 299) in elementary schools and in fifth and sixth grades in higher secondary schools (N = 420). Self-control predicted grades in all subjects (but best in English) and in both types of school six months later, independent of previous grades and IQ. Previous grades strongly predicted performance in all subjects. Females were higher in self-control and earned better grades in feminine subjects than males. Self-control mediated the link between gender and grades in languages in females.

2013, Achtziger, Anja, Gollwitzer, Peter M.

2013, Achtziger, Anja, Gollwitzer, Peter M.

2011-10-18, Baetens, Kris, Van der Cruyssen, Laurens, Achtziger, Anja, Vandekerckhove, Marie, Van Overwalle, Frank

Past research on spontaneous trait inferences using event related potentials (ERPs) has consistently reported increased late positive potential (LPP) amplitudes following social expectancy violations, but no N400 modulation. In the present study, participants read scenarios describing behaviors of unknown actors. They entailed descriptions of several positive trait implying behaviors, followed by a single final sentence describing behavior that was either consistent or inconsistent with the previously implied trait. As in previous studies, we found significantly increased LPP amplitudes following inconsistent behaviors at multiple frontal sites. Unlike in previous research, we also found increased N400 amplitudes at several centro-parietal sites. The divergence of these results is explained from minor differences in the stimulus presentation procedure and possible overlap of ERP components of opposite polarity. Temporal principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed the separate influence of concurrent LPP and N400 ERP modulations, and the source of the largest factors was located using sLORETA. It is suggested that the increased N400 in response to trait inconsistencies reflects difficulties in understanding unanticipated behavior, while the LPP effect might reflect evaluative incongruence.

2013-09, Achtziger, Anja, Bayer, Ute C.

The relationship between perfectionism and stress is well-established. Recent research has focused on identifying the mediators of this link. Starting from a multidimensional perspective on perfectionism, we investigated the role of self-control and found it to be a mediator between perfectionism and stress in a sample of university freshmen. Further, perfectionistic concerns (i.e., discrepancy; Slaney et al. 2001) were positively correlated with stress, whereas perfectionistic strivings (i.e., high standards; Slaney et al. 2001) were negatively correlated with stress. Practical implications regarding overcoming maladaptive perfectionism are discussed.

2013, Achtziger, Anja, Gollwitzer, Peter M.

2013, Achtziger, Anja, Gollwitzer, Peter M.

2013, Achtziger, Anja, Gollwitzer, Peter M.

2013, Achtziger, Anja, Gollwitzer, Peter M., Schmalt, Heinz-Dieter, Bergius, Rudolf

2012, Achtziger, Anja, Martiny, Sarah E., Oettingen, Gabriele, Gollwitzer, Peter M.