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Is it really "all in their heads"? How self-esteem predicts partner responsiveness
Kassandra Cortes1, Joanne V Wood1
1University of Waterloo.
Journal of Personality
|January 10, 2018
Summary
People with low self-esteem (LSEs) experience less partner responsiveness, contrary to the belief that their perceptions are solely due to self-projection. This lack of responsiveness from partners of LSEs is a warranted observation.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Relationship Science
Background:
- Partner responsiveness is crucial for relationship well-being.
- Individuals with low self-esteem (LSEs) often perceive their partners as less responsive than individuals with high self-esteem (HSEs).
- Previous assumptions suggested LSEs' perceptions were due to negative self-projection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether LSEs' perceptions of lower partner responsiveness are warranted.
- To compare partner responsiveness to negative self-disclosures between LSEs and HSEs.
- To explore potential mechanisms underlying self-esteem differences in perceived responsiveness.
Main Methods:
- Two studies examined perceptions of partner responsiveness to negative self-disclosures.
- Methods included partner reports (Study 1) and objective coder ratings after a lab-induced negative experience (Study 2).
- Study 3 explored underlying mechanisms for self-esteem differences.
Main Results:
- Partners of LSEs were consistently rated as less responsive than partners of HSEs.
- This finding held true across self-reports, partner reports, and objective observer ratings.
- Study 3 identified potential mechanisms driving these observed differences.
Conclusions:
- The lower responsiveness of partners towards LSEs is a real phenomenon, not just a projection.
- This lack of responsiveness may contribute to poorer relationship quality experienced by individuals with LSEs.
- Findings challenge the notion that LSEs' negative perceptions are unfounded.