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The adaptiveness of positive self-evaluations Kurt, Aliye

Abstract

The literature includes conflicting conclusions about the adaptiveness of positive self-evaluations. In some studies, positive self-evaluations appear to have beneficial personal and interpersonal outcomes whereas in other studies, they appear to have negative outcomes. This dissertation is an attempt to reconcile these conflicting bodies of research. Using multiple operationalizations and a diverse set of criterion measures, the present study evaluated the adaptiveness of three forms of positive self-evaluation, namely, self-esteem, narcissism, and self-enhancement. The research design included three modes of measurement: a questionnaire component (N= 456); a peer-rating component (N= 123); and a laboratory component (N= 94). Standard measures of the three forms of positive self-evaluations were used to predict four kinds of maladjustment: self-rated and peer-rated personal and interpersonal maladjustment, as well as defensive reactions to ego-threatening feedback. Results indicated positive outcomes for high self-esteem but not for narcissism. The subgroup of high self-esteem individuals who were also high in narcissism was especially maladjusted. After the ego-threat induction, high self-esteem individuals exhibited more defensiveness than their low self-esteem counterparts, yet they maintained positive about themselves. Contrary to predictions, narcissists did not show defensive reactions. The adaptiveness of self-enhancement was addressed by comparing two standard operationalizations in predicting the same set of outcomes. The social comparison operationalization (rating yourself more positively than you rate others) was negatively associated with both self-reported and peer-rated maladjustment. The discrepancy operationalization (rating yourself more positively than others rate you), had positive associations with maladjustment, with the exception of self-reported personal maladjustment. Also examined were the interrelations among the three forms of positive self-evaluation. The results indicated that both high self-esteem individuals and narcissists engaged in high levels of self-enhancement behavior. In addition, the mediation analyses demonstrated that self-enhancement can partially account for the association of narcissism with negative outcomes. Overall the findings of this study help reconcile the debates over the adaptiveness of positive self-evaluations by suggesting that the conflicting findings of the previous studies are due to (a) a failure to distinguish the various forms of positive self-evaluation, (b) the use of different operationalizations, and (c) the use of different criterion measures.

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