Getting Out of Ruts A Laboratory Study of a Cognitive Model of Reframing

ABSTRACT The theory of Action Identification predicts that people are more likely to adopt a novel course of action if they concentrate on the how rather than the why aspects of their behavior. This study tested two hypotheses derived from the theory: (a) Operating at a low level of action identification increases the likelihood of problem reframing, and (b) High level of action identification induces perseverance with solutions that are compatible with currently held frames, whereas low level of action identification induces change to solutions that are compatible with alternative frames. The hypotheses were tested by presenting subjects with two case descriptions of problem solving in the real world. The results show that Action Identification can be used as a cognitive model of reframing.