Making Sure You See the Real Me: The Role of Self-Esteem in Spontaneous Self-Expansion

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica B. Slotter ◽  
Lyuboslava Kolarova
Keyword(s):  
Self Esteem ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Romantic Partner ◽  
The Real ◽  
Negative Attributes

People alter their self-concepts by incorporating attributes of close others, such as desired romantic partners, into their own identity. The current research examined self-esteem as a moderator of this spontaneous self-expansion. Two studies tested the hypothesis that when presented with a prospective romantic partner, higher self-esteem people (HSE) would self-expand to adopt positive attributes, while lower self-esteem people (LSE) would self-expand to adopt negative attributes. This tendency corresponds with people’s desire to self-verify and be seen by others in line with their own self-views, which are often negative among those lower in self-esteem. Study 1 ( n = 218) and Study 2 ( n = 234) confirmed our predictions that when motivated to increase romantic closeness to a prospective partner, self-esteem differentially predicts people’s spontaneous self-expansion to adopt positive versus negative attributes.

Makeup and its application simulation affect women’s self-perceptions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaroslava Varella Valentova ◽  
Anthonieta Looman Mafra ◽  
Natália Machado ◽  
Marco Antonio Correa Varella
Keyword(s):  
Self Esteem ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
The Real ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
Self Perceptions ◽  
Appearance Satisfaction ◽  
Self Assessments

Appearance modification is ancient, universal, and influences other- and selfperceptions. The role of expectation of appearance modification has never beeninvestigated. We analyzed self-assessments of women without makeup and after having makeup professionally applied at four increasing levels. In the simulation phase,women were treated with colorless cosmetics. Fifty Brazilian women (Mage = 24.26) rated themselves on attractiveness, health, self-esteem, femininity, satisfaction withappearance, age, dominance, confidence, and competence in all experimental conditions. Women in the simulation phase considered themselves more feminine,healthier, and with higher self-esteem than without makeup. In the real makeup phases, these ratings were higher than in simulation phase. Appearance satisfaction and attractiveness did not differ between simulation and the real makeup phases, both being higher than without makeup. Confidence increased only in real makeup phases, and there was no effect on competence. Thus, real appearance modification and/or an expectation thereof can differently affect specific domains of self-evaluation.

Negative Interpersonal Interactions and Dating Abuse Perpetration: The Mediating Role of Dispositional Forgivingness

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (15) ◽  
pp. 2311-2334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel C. Garthe ◽  
Brandon J. Griffin ◽  
Everett L. Worthington ◽  
Elizabeth A. Goncy ◽  
Terri N. Sullivan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Romantic Partner ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Interpersonal Interactions ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Dating Abuse ◽  
Negative Interactions

Theory and research suggest that an individual’s negative interactions with his or her parents or romantic partner are associated with the perpetration of dating abuse. Research is beginning to explore the role of forgivingness within abusive romantic relationships, and these preliminary findings suggest that dispositional forgivingness might mediate the relations between negative interpersonal interactions and dating abuse. The current study assessed negative interactions with one’s parents and one’s romantic partner, the frequency of dating abuse perpetration, and dispositional forgivingness of others and oneself among a sample of emerging adults in college ( n = 421). Dispositional forgivingness of others was negatively associated with the perpetration of emotional/verbal dating abuse and threatening behaviors, and it mediated relations between negative interpersonal interactions and dating abuse perpetration. Our findings suggest that the tendency to forgive others may explain why some individuals who experience negative interpersonal interactions with parents or romantic partners do not escalate to perpetration of abuse within their romantic relationships. Implications for future research and application are discussed.

Evaluating the Physical Attractiveness of Oneself and One’s Romantic Partner

2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viren Swami ◽  
Stefan Stieger ◽  
Tanja Haubner ◽  
Martin Voracek ◽  
Adrian Furnham
Keyword(s):  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Big Five ◽  
Physical Attractiveness ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Romantic Partner ◽  
Personality Factor ◽  
Big Five Personality ◽  
Relationship Length ◽  
Body Components

The present study sought to extend recent work by examining individual and relationship variables that predict the love-is-blind bias, that is, a tendency to perceive one’s romantic partner as more attractive than oneself. A sample of 113 men and 143 women completed a battery of tests that included various demographic, individual difference, and relationship-related measures. Results provided support for a love-is-blind bias, in that both women and men rated their romantic partners as significantly more attractive than themselves on overall attractiveness and the attractiveness of various body components. Results also showed that the Big Five personality factor of Extraversion, self-esteem, relationship satisfaction, and romantic love were positively correlated with the love-is-blind bias, whereas relationship length and playful love were negatively correlated with the bias. The results of this study are considered in relation to previous work on positive partner illusions.

Regulating fears of rejection

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly Claire Dixon ◽  
Nickola Christine Overall
Keyword(s):  
Self Esteem ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Romantic Partner ◽  
Relationship Commitment ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Relationship Conflict ◽  
Dispositional Mindfulness ◽  
Destructive Behavior ◽  
Relational Value ◽  
Destructive Behaviors

Relationship conflict often incites fears of rejection, and rejection fears can lead to destructive behaviors toward intimate partners. In the current study, we tested whether dispositional mindfulness attenuated rejection fears, and destructive behaviors arising from rejection fears, during daily conflict with romantic partners. Participants first completed measures of dispositional mindfulness, self-esteem, relationship commitment, and self-control. Participants then reported their daily experiences of conflict with their romantic partner, fears of rejection, and destructive behavior each day for 10 days. Greater daily conflict was associated with increases in daily rejection fears, and greater rejection fears were associated with increases in destructive behaviors. However, both of these within-person associations were attenuated for people higher in dispositional mindfulness. Moreover, the buffering effect of mindfulness on rejection fears was particularly effective for those low in self-esteem who chronically doubt their relational value and typically show heightened fears of rejection. The attenuating effect of mindfulness on rejection fears and destructive behaviors was also independent of other factors shown to produce more constructive reactions to relationship conflict, including participants’ relationship commitment and self-control. These results reveal the unique and important role dispositional mindfulness plays in regulating rejection fears and facilitating more constructive behaviors during daily life.

Social and Temporal Comparisons as Moderators of Psychological Resources Associations With Wellbeing

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasida Ben-Zur
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Subjective Wellbeing ◽  
Social Comparisons ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Psychological Resources ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Age Range ◽  
General Wellbeing

Abstract. The current study investigated the associations of psychological resources, social comparisons, and temporal comparisons with general wellbeing. The sample included 142 community participants (47.9% men; age range 23–83 years), who compared themselves with others, and with their younger selves, on eight dimensions (e.g., physical health, resilience). They also completed questionnaires assessing psychological resources of mastery and self-esteem, and three components of subjective wellbeing: life satisfaction and negative and positive affect. The main results showed that high levels of psychological resources contributed to wellbeing, with self-enhancing social and temporal comparisons moderating the effects of resources on certain wellbeing components. Specifically, under low levels of mastery or self-esteem self-enhancing social or temporal comparisons were related to either higher life satisfaction or positive affect. The results highlight the role of resources and comparisons in promoting people’s wellbeing, and suggest that self-enhancing comparisons function as cognitive coping mechanisms when psychological resources are low.

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