Self-esteem and organization of valenced information about others: the "Jekyll and Hyde"-ing of relationship partners.
The authors theorize that individuals with high self-esteem functionally integrate positive and negative partner information in memory, whereas those low in self-esteem segregate such information. The authors obtained support for this view in 7 studies. In a first set, participants judged whether positive and negative traits presented in an alternating or nonalternating order applied to a partner. Low but not high self-esteem individuals were slowed by the alternating order when judging relationship partners (but not inanimate objects). In a 2nd set, participants answered questions tapping integrated thinking, self-esteem, and other attributes. Higher self-esteem was associated with more integrated thinking when other attributes were controlled. In a final study, anxiously attached individuals were more labile in rating their spouse over a 5-day period.
Graham
Steven M
SM
Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. smgraham@andrew.cmu.edu
Clark
Margaret S
MS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003380:Courtship / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012059:Rejection, Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012938:Social Perception; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States