Content area
Abstract
This study investigates whether the quiet-ego—characterized by a balanced self-other identity—modulates an established event-related potential measure of self-centric motivation using electroencephalography. It was hypothesized that higher quiet ego would eliminate significant differences in error-related negativity, a component that arises due to performance breakdown upon recognition of an error, during a task in which you are able to win or lose money for your self, a friend, and a stranger. This study also attempts to replicate the interdependent self-construal modulation of ERN components (Kitayama & Park, 2014). Participants were recruited from the PSY 101 participant pool and received course credit and $20 for participation. Participants (N = 70) were primarily female and 18-19 years of age. Following initial self-report measures, participants played a “brain game” that included a time-reaction flanker task. Consistent with past research, ERN’s were significantly larger for the self, compared to a close-friend or stranger. However, we were unable to find evidence that quiet ego or interdependence predicted these differences. This study contributes to the existing and mixed evidence regarding the significance of the ERN, and how it relates to motivational drives.
