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Implementing cognitive strategies for interpersonal esteem enhancement
Junwen M Hu1, Amanda J Holmstrom2
1Department of Communication, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
Cognition & Emotion
|July 24, 2026
Summary
Interpersonal reappraisal (IR) messages effectively enhance self-esteem. Combining IR with cognitive acceptance (CA) did not improve outcomes, while adding cognitive rejection (CR) harmed effectiveness unless CA was also included.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Communication Studies
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Supporting individuals facing self-esteem threats is crucial.
- Cognitive strategies like interpersonal reappraisal (IR), cognitive acceptance (CA), and cognitive rejection (CR) are employed to aid others.
- The combined effects of these distinct cognitive strategies in supportive messaging remain underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effectiveness of distinct cognitive strategies—IR, CA, and CR—when implemented in messages designed to support esteem-threatened individuals.
- To examine the impact of combining different cognitive strategies within supportive messages.
- To understand the mediating factors influencing message effectiveness.
Main Methods:
- Three experiments (N=924) utilized a message evaluation paradigm.
- Participants assessed messages containing IR, CA, and CR content, individually or in combination, in response to esteem-threatening scenarios.
- Outcome measures included self-esteem enhancement, perceived threat to freedom, reactance, and message processing.
Main Results:
- Interpersonal reappraisal (IR) content alone demonstrated the most significant and consistent esteem enhancement across all studies.
- Incorporating cognitive acceptance (CA) with IR did not alter message effectiveness.
- Adding cognitive rejection (CR) to IR messages diminished their effectiveness, an effect mitigated by the inclusion of CA.
Conclusions:
- Interpersonal reappraisal is a potent strategy for bolstering self-esteem in supportive messages.
- Combinations of cognitive strategies require careful consideration; CR can be detrimental unless balanced with CA.
- Perceived threat to freedom, reactance, and message processing mediate the effectiveness of these cognitive strategies.
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