The place of self-esteem in interpersonal behavior

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Self-esteem is crucial for interpersonal dynamics.
• Understanding its role in social behavior is key.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between self-esteem and interpersonal behavior.
• To determine how self-esteem measures fit within interpersonal style domains.

Main Methods:

• Administered self-esteem measures (Confidence, Perceived Social Approval) and the Interpersonal Style Inventory to 75 male high school students.
• Utilized principal components analysis and Promax rotation on 17 scale scores.

Main Results:

• Identified six higher-order factors, including Impulse Control, Level of Socialization, Interpersonal Involvement, and Autonomy.
• Confidence and Popularity emerged as distinct factors.
• Confidence was characterized as self-assured, rule-free stability.

Conclusions:

• Self-esteem, particularly confidence, represents a significant dimension within interpersonal behavior.
• Findings contribute to understanding the structure of interpersonal functioning and self-perception.