[The function of self-esteem motive on the process of self-image bias arousal]

The present study investigated the influence of active or passive self-esteem motive (SEM) on the process of self-image bias arousal in person perception. Subjects were 45 female college students and each were assigned to one of three experimental conditions: (a) active SEM aroused (ACTIVE), (b) passive SEM aroused (PASSIVE), (c) either SEM not aroused (CONTROL). The change in frequency of using self-desirable and self-undesirable dimensions in the descriptions of stimulus person's personality was examined among three conditions: the frequency before SEM being aroused was subtracted from the frequency after SEM being aroused. The results showed that the frequency of using self-desirable dimensions was not increased in ACTIVE condition compared with those in the other two conditions. On the other hand, the frequency of using self-undesirable dimensions was significantly decreased in PASSIVE condition than those in the others. These results suggested that there was self-image bias which decreased the importance of self-undesirable dimensions in person perception when the passive SEM was aroused.