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The role of self-esteem in typical and atypical changes in expectations
1Department of Psychology, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723, USA. abel@wcuvaxl.wcu.edu
Abstract:
Self-esteem was explored as a factor in appropriate (typical) and inappropriate (atypical) changes in performance expectations across trials of a nonthreatening success condition vs. a threatening failure condition. Participants (51 women, 45 men) were randomly assigned to one of the conditions and completed a self-esteem scale and 8 trials of a timed digit-substitution task. Moderated multiple regression revealed significant interactions between self-esteem and condition for typical and atypical changes. A significant positive relationship between self-esteem and typical changes was found under success and between self-esteem and atypical changes under failure. Differences between conditions were evident only for high self-esteem, with greater typical changes for success and greater atypical changes for failure.