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Naïve beliefs shape emotional reactions to evaluative feedback
Thomas I Vaughan-Johnston1, Jill A Jacobson1
1Queen's University, Kingston, Canada.
Cognition & Emotion
|September 23, 2020
Summary
People’s motivation for self-enhancement, or seeking favorable self-views, increases when they believe maximizing self-esteem is important. This contrasts with self-consistency, where individuals seek information confirming existing self-views.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Self-Perception Research
- Motivation Science
Background:
- Individuals are motivated by self-enhancement (seeking favorable self-views) and self-consistency (confirming existing self-views).
- Naïve theories about the importance of self-esteem may influence these motivations.
- Previous research shows self-esteem levels affect information validity perception.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether beliefs about self-esteem importance moderate self-enhancement motivation.
- To examine the interplay between self-esteem importance, trait self-esteem, and self-evaluative motivations.
Main Methods:
- Three independent samples were surveyed.
- Participants' naïve theories regarding self-esteem importance were assessed.
- Emotional reactions to feedback favorability were measured in relation to self-esteem importance.
Main Results:
- Increasing the perceived importance of self-esteem heightened prevention-based emotional reactions to feedback favorability.
- This suggests self-enhancement motivation strengthens when individuals prioritize maximizing self-esteem.
- Self-consistency effects were replicated: positive information was deemed more valid by high self-esteem individuals.
Conclusions:
- Beliefs about the importance of self-esteem significantly moderate self-enhancement motivation.
- Both self-esteem importance and trait self-esteem uniquely shape self-enhancement and self-consistency drives.
- Understanding these motivations is key to comprehending self-evaluative processes.
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