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Related Experiment Videos

Independent threats and self-evaluation maintenance processes.

A Tesser1, J Moore

  • 1Institute for Behavioral Research, University of Georgia.

The Journal of Social Psychology
|October 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary

This study explored Self-Evaluation Maintenance (SEM) processes and their connection to the broader self-system. Findings suggest unrelated self-esteem changes do not significantly impact SEM effects.

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Area of Science:

  • Social Psychology
  • Self-Perception Theory

Background:

  • Self-Evaluation Maintenance (SEM) theory explains how social comparison impacts self-esteem.
  • SEM processes are triggered by comparing one's performance to another's, especially when self-relevance is high or low.
  • External factors can also influence self-esteem, independent of social comparison.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether self-esteem threats or enhancements unrelated to social comparison affect SEM processes.
  • To determine if prior ego-threatening or ego-enhancing experiences modulate the outcomes of SEM.

Main Methods:

  • The study utilized American undergraduates as participants.
  • It examined the impact of unrelated ego-threatening or ego-enhancing experiences on SEM processes.
  • Experimental manipulation of self-esteem was employed to assess its interaction with SEM.

Main Results:

  • Contrary to expectations, results indicated minimal interaction between SEM processes and external self-esteem manipulations.
  • Prior ego-enhancement or ego-threat did not significantly alter the effects predicted by SEM theory.
  • The independence of SEM processes from unrelated self-esteem fluctuations was largely supported.

Conclusions:

  • SEM processes appear robust and relatively independent of temporary, unrelated shifts in self-esteem.
  • The findings suggest that self-evaluation maintenance operates distinctly from other self-esteem regulation mechanisms.
  • Further research could explore boundary conditions or specific types of unrelated self-esteem effects.

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