If you’ve ever told someone they should do better — or been on the receiving end of that message — this episode of The Psychology Undergrad will make you rethink everything you know about motivation. We unpack the 1975 Miller, Brickman, and Bolen study that flipped traditional persuasion on its head, showing that lasting change doesn’t come from telling people what to do, but from affirming who they already are.

Through experiments with kids on littering and math performance, this episode breaks down the difference between persuasion (“You should try harder”) and attribution (“You are a hardworking student”). The findings are wild: affirming identity changes behaviour more effectively — and longer — than rules, threats, or even praise.

We also touch on the ethical tension this creates: when is affirming someone’s potential just smart psychology, and when does it cross into manipulation?
Whether you’re studying for an exam or just curious how identity shapes action, this one gives you the tools to understand why self-concept may be the most powerful motivator of all.

#socialpsychology #psychologyundergrad #selfconcept #behaviorchange #attributiontheory #persuasion #motivation #psychologypodcast #identity #mindscience