title: Are implicit self-esteem measures valid for assessing individual and cultural differences?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our research utilized two popular theoretical conceptualizations of implicit self-esteem: 1) implicit self-esteem as a global automatic reaction to the self; and 2) implicit self-esteem as a context/domain specific construct. Under this framework, we present an extensive search for implicit self-esteem measure validity among different cultural groups (Study 1) and under several experimental manipulations (Study 2).
  
  
  METHODS
  In Study 1, Euro-Canadians (N = 107), Asian-Canadians (N = 187), and Japanese (N = 112) completed a battery of implicit self-esteem, explicit self-esteem, and criterion measures. Included implicit self-esteem measures were either popular or provided methodological improvements upon older methods. Criterion measures were sampled from previous research on implicit self-esteem and included self-report and independent ratings. In Study 2, Americans (N = 582) completed a shorter battery of these same types of measures under either a control condition, an explicit prime meant to activate the self-concept in a particular context, or prime meant to activate self-competence related implicit attitudes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Across both studies, explicit self-esteem measures far outperformed implicit self-esteem measures in all cultural groups and under all experimental manipulations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implicit self-esteem measures are not valid for individual or cross-cultural comparisons. We speculate that individuals may not form implicit associations with the self as an attitudinal object.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: Carl F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Falk
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Heine
authors.forename: Kosuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takemura
authors.forename: Cathy X J
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chih-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology; D001955:British Columbia; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010379:Peer Group; D010556:Personality Tests / Q000592:standards*; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D057566:Self Report; D013334:Students; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cross-Cultural Psychology; Implicit Attitudes; Personality; Self-Esteem