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Delineating the Structural Precursors and Cognitive Consequences of Personal Powerlessness: the Filipino Woman's Experience
Author(s) -
OBLIGACION FREDDIE R.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of community and applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.042
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1099-1298
pISSN - 1052-9284
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1298(199605)6:2<109::aid-casp358>3.0.co;2-a
Subject(s) - psychology , perspective (graphical) , cognition , empowerment , self esteem , constructive , social psychology , developmental psychology , self , kinship , sociology , process (computing) , neuroscience , artificial intelligence , computer science , political science , anthropology , law , operating system
Adopting a structural‐cognitive perspective and path analysis, this study demonstrates that personal powerlessness generates sequelae of maladaptive cognitions, namely, low self‐esteem, low success expectancies and a weak motivation for self‐improvement. Despite adverse structural and natural forces, Bicolano women exhibited self‐efficacy, high self‐esteem, and strong propensity for self‐improvement, albeit expressing low success expectancies. These constructive cognitions can be attributed to the women's strong achievement ethic, high educational attainment, and supportive kinship system. These factors also compensate for the depressive effects of low success expectancies on the motivation for self‐improvement. Implications for empowerment strategies and cognitive literature are discussed.