Reading Struggle Stories of Role Models Can Improve the Behavioral Performance of Undergraduates After Experiencing Failure

doi:10.12139/j.1672-0628.2026.02.013

Abstract

Abstract: Struggle stories of role models describe that the role models make great efforts, overcome a series of setbacks, and ultimately achieve success. The current study aimed to examine the impact of reading struggle stories of role models on the subsequent behavioral performance of undergraduates who had experienced failure. In study 1, undergraduates with high and low levels of perseverance who had experienced failure were randomly assigned to read struggle stories or achievement stories of role models (scientists vs patterns). The results showed that reading struggle stories rather than achievement stories of role models increased the persistence behavior and challenge-seeking behavior of undergraduates after experiencing failure. Reading stories of scientists rather than stories of patterns increased the persistence behavior of undergraduates after experiencing failure. In study 2, based on the model of perseverance, the struggle stories of scientists were divided into stories emphasizing controllability, enlightenment, conviction and optimism. Undergraduates with high and low levels of perseverance who had experienced failure were randomly assigned to read achievement stories or different types of struggle stories. The results showed that only reading stories emphasizing enlightenment increased the persistence behavior of undergraduates after experiencing failure. These findings reveal that undergraduates can benefit from reading struggle stories of scientists. Reading stories emphasizing enlightenment has a unique effect on persistence behavior of undergraduates.

Key words: perseverance, struggle story, enlightenment, failure, persistence behavior

摘要： 榜样励志故事讲述了榜样在失败后通过努力和坚持终获成功的事例。为考察阅读榜样励志故事对高、低耐挫大学生失败后行为表现的影响，研究1使高、低耐挫大学生经历失败后阅读不同领域榜样(科学家 vs. 楷模)的故事(励志 vs. 成就)。结果发现，与成就故事相比，阅读榜样励志故事能增加大学生失败后的坚持行为和寻求挑战行为。与楷模故事相比，阅读科学家故事能增加大学生失败后的坚持行为。研究2依据耐挫心理模型，将科学家励志故事分为可控、醒悟、坚信和乐观故事，使高、低耐挫大学生经历失败后阅读成就故事或不同内容励志故事。结果发现，与阅读科学家成就故事相比，仅阅读科学家醒悟故事能增加大学生失败后的坚持行为。结果表明，阅读科学家励志故事能改善大学生失败后的行为表现，阅读科学家醒悟故事的效果最佳。

关键词: 耐挫心理, 励志故事, 醒悟, 失败, 坚持行为

CLC Number:

B849

DU Xu, FENG Mengmeng, LIU Ying, BAI Xuejun. Reading Struggle Stories of Role Models Can Improve the Behavioral Performance of Undergraduates After Experiencing Failure[J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2026, 24(2): 242-250.

都旭, 冯萌萌, 刘颖, 白学军. 阅读榜样励志故事能改善大学生失败后的行为表现[J]. 心理与行为研究, 2026, 24(2): 242-250.

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