seminal insight that the self may function both as
object and as subject has important implications for our field.
Throughout, we have shown how taking these two perspectives
on the self into account serves useful purposes such as offering
common explanations of findings in different literatures, unearthing
differences between apparent similarities, helping to reconcile
seemingly conflicting results, suggesting novel predictions, and
offering advice to managers. Furthermore, our exploration of the
self as both subject and object opens up promising new avenues
of research. For example, in the discussion of self-affirmation theory
and ego depletion theory, we noted a meaningful parallel with
respect to transferability across venues. Specifically, selfaffirmation
theory suggests that reaffirmation, even in a domain
that is completely distinct from the domain of self-threat, may
counteract individuals’ response to threat. That is, the me-self
appears to exist across domains; therefore, reaffirmation in one
domain may alleviate self-threat in another. Likewise, ego depletion
theory suggests that self-regulation depletes stock from a
common pool of ego resources. Therefore, depletion of selfcontrol
resources in one domain diminishes how effectively people
can exert self-control in an entirely different domain. This transferability
principle appears to be a central feature of self-processes, in
self-affirmation theory (self as object) with respect to gains and in
ego depletion theory (self as subject) with respect to losses.