Citation

Kernis MH, Cornell DP, Sun CR, Berry A, Harlow T. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 1993; 65(6): 1190-1204.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens 30602.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, American Psychological Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8295118

Abstract

Study 1 examined the extent to which stability and level of self-esteem predicted cognitive and emotional reactions to interpersonal feedback. Among high self-esteem individuals, instability was associated with acceptance and positive emotions following positive feedback but to rejection and defensiveness following negative feedback. Among low self-esteem individuals, instability was unrelated to reactions to positive feedback but was related to less defensiveness and greater acceptance of negative feedback. Study 2 examined the extent to which variability and importance of specific self-evaluations were associated with instability of global self-esteem. Discussion focused on the roles of level and stability of self-esteem in reactions to evaluations and on the nature of self-esteem instability.

Language: en