An analysis of the mirror-induced objective self-awareness effect

Abstract

The present study assessed the combined effect of mirror presence and degree of evaluation apprehension on task performance and palmar sweating. The primary finding of interest was that mirror presence led to a reduction in palmar sweating but no such reduction occurred in a condition in which no mirror was present. Since other studies have shown that audience presence increases palmar sweating, the results of the present experiment suggest that, contrary to objective self-awareness theory, mirror presence and audience presence may involve different psychological processes. © 1978, The Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.