Date
9-17-2026
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Natalie Hamrick
Keywords
embodied cognition, social conformity, social norms, self-efficacy, self-accountability, resilience, women
Disciplines
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Tabler, Trudy D., "The Influence of Embodied Cognition on Self-Efficacy, Self-Accountability, and Resilience in Women Affected by Social Expectations" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8922.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8922
Abstract
Research has explored cognitive-based interventions to enhance psychological constructs; however, emerging evidence regarding embodied cognition principles, which examine how bodily experiences shape our thoughts and behaviors, may provide a more integrative approach. Self-efficacy, self-accountability, and resilience are essential psychological constructs that empower women to navigate challenges, pursue goals, and maintain agency in their lives. The research explored whether embodied cognition interventions (N=9) can disrupt automatic, conformity-driven behaviors and promote increased self-efficacy, self-accountability, and resilience in women compared to techniques that rely solely on cognitive reflection (N=8), or a control group (N=8). Findings from this randomized controlled pilot study did not support statistical significance for most hypotheses, although the effects did go in the anticipated direction, favoring the Embodied Cognition group. Those randomized to the Embodied Cognition group had a larger pre-to-post increase in self-efficacy compared to the Cognitive Only group (Cohen’s d = 0.43) and the Control group (Cohen’s d = 1.04). Similarly, the Embodied Cognition group displayed a larger improvement in resilience than the Cognitive Only (Cohen’s d = 0.50) and Control groups (Cohen’s d = 1.16). Within the Agency sub-category of self-accountability, a statistically significant group x time effect was found as the discrepancy levels decreased as expected. A larger decrease was found in self-discrepancy in the Embodied Cognition Group than in the Cognitive Only (Cohen’s d = 2.09), and the Control Group (Cohen’s d = 1.46). The Relational sub-category of self-accountability showed no change across groups and suggests virtually no difference in self-discrepancy (Embodied Cognition Group vs. Cognitive Only Cohen’s d = 0.02, Embodied Cognition vs. Control Group Cohen’s d = 0.05).
The Secure Identity sub-category showed a larger decrease in self-discrepancy in the Embodied Cognition Group vs. the Cognitive Only Group (Cohen’s d = 1.73), and the Control Group (Cohen’s d = 1.46).
Finally, participants reported that the intervention in the Embodied Cognition Group was feasible and acceptable. The implications of these findings support a full randomized controlled trial study so that findings may be generalized across populations to improve the well-being of women and girls.
