Self-Esteem and threats to self: implications for self-construals and interpersonal perceptions

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Personality Psychology

Background:

• Previous research indicates ego threats impact likability ratings differently for high and low self-esteem individuals.
• High self-esteem individuals are rated less likable post-threat, while low self-esteem individuals are rated more likable.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how self-construals and ego threats influence interpersonal perceptions in individuals with varying self-esteem levels.
• To understand the mediating role of self-construals in the relationship between self-esteem, ego threat, and interpersonal appraisals.

Main Methods:

• Four studies were conducted examining interpersonal perceptions.
• Participants with high and low self-esteem were exposed to ego threats.
• Self-construals (independent vs. interdependent) and their link to interpersonal evaluations were analyzed.

Main Results:

• After ego threat, high self-esteem individuals sought competency feedback and became more independent.
• Low self-esteem individuals sought interpersonal feedback and became more interdependent post-threat.
• Independent and interdependent self-construals statistically explained differences in likability and personality perceptions.

Conclusions:

• Ego threats alter self-aspect focus based on self-esteem levels.
• These shifts in self-construal (independent vs. interdependent) lead to distinct interpersonal appraisals.
• Understanding self-construal is key to explaining how self-esteem and threat interact to shape social perceptions.