Individual Differences In Self Esteem

Question 1

define self esteem

Answer 1

in individual’s overall sense of self worth and personal value

Question 2

what are the ‘domain’s of the self’?

Answer 2

actual self, ideal self, ought self

Question 3

what is implicit self-esteem and how can it be measured?

Answer 3

self esteem they are eliciting unconsciously. it can be measured with reaction times: quicker to associate positive words with self and slower with negative words

Question 4

what is global self esteem?

Answer 4

an individual’s attitude toward the self as a whole

Question 5

what are the predictors of global self esteem? name the theorist

Answer 5

Harter 1993 - physical appearance, social appearance, athletic competence, scholastic competence and behavioural conduct

Question 6

in the context of culture, what does self-esteem depend on?

Answer 6

the social values of domains and the social comparison of standards

Question 7

how might self-esteem be inherited?

Answer 7

certain domains may have genetic predispositions:
physical characteristics = appearance and athletic self esteem
intelligence = scholastic self esteem

Question 8

what are benefits of self esteem? name the theorist

Answer 8

it has been shown that low self-esteem in adolescence can predict negative outcomes in adulthood: poorer mental & physical health, worse job prospects, more criminal behaviour - trzesniewski 2006

Question 9

which theorist researched self-esteem as an anxiety buffer? describe his study

Answer 9

strauman 1993
manipulated self-esteem: positive or neutral feeback
manipulated threat : watching video about death

participants whose self-esteem was boosted experienced less anxiety than in the threat conditions

Question 10

what is the terror management theory?

Answer 10

humans are aware of their own mortality, therefor self esteem is used as an anxiety buffer to avoid constant terror - greenberg, soloman, psyszczynski 1997

Question 11

describe findings that support the terror management theory

Answer 11

high (or boosted) self esteem reduces the effect of mortality reminders

Question 12

describe the self-esteem as a ‘sociometer’ theory

Answer 12

self-esteem monitors the quality of interpersonal relationships and motivates behaviour that help the person maintain a minimum level of social acceptance