Related Experiment Videos
Self-esteem maintenance processes: why low self-esteem may be resistant to change
Robert A Josephs1, Jennifer K Bosson, Christopher G Jacobs
1The University of Texas at Austin, TX 78712-0187, USA. josephs@psy.utexas.edu
Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
|March 17, 2004
Summary
People with low self-esteem struggle to accept positive self-feedback, unlike positive external feedback. This difficulty in internalizing positive self-regard contributes to maintaining low self-esteem over time.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Self-esteem is a crucial aspect of psychological well-being.
- Despite a general desire for high self-worth, low self-esteem persists in many individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate why individuals with low self-esteem maintain their negative self-perceptions.
- To explore how individuals with varying levels of self-esteem process self-generated versus externally-sourced feedback.
Main Methods:
- Four empirical studies were conducted.
- Participants' acceptance of positive and negative feedback from self and external sources was assessed.
- Self-esteem levels were measured and correlated with feedback processing.
Main Results:
- Individuals with low self-esteem were less likely to accept positive self-generated feedback compared to external feedback.
- Both high and low self-esteem individuals accepted positive feedback from knowledgeable external sources.
- Participants with low self-esteem readily accepted negative self-generated feedback.
Conclusions:
- The inability to internalize positive self-affirmations is a key mechanism in maintaining low self-esteem.
- External validation can be accepted by individuals with low self-esteem, highlighting a potential avenue for intervention.
- Understanding feedback processing differences is vital for addressing persistent low self-esteem.