* People differ in the complexity of their self-representations (their self-views)
* A self-representation is more complex the more aspects it has (in terms of roles, traits, typical behaviors, etc.)
* A self-representation is also more complex the more independent its various components are
 

Advantages of Complex Self-Views

* Less fluctuation in terms of emotional response to success/failure
* Less fluctuation in terms of self-appraisal
* Lower chance of developing depression
* In other words, don't put all your eggs in one basket
 

What does Linville not tell us?

* What are the different dimensions though which people evaluate themselves?
* Is it important how the type of event experienced (the success or failure) is related to aspects of the
    self-representation?
* Do these bases of self-representation influence reactions to real-life events or only laboratory scenarios?
 

Bases of Self-Worth

The long questionnaire you filled out was designed by Jennifer Crocker and colleagues to measure the following
    bases of self-esteem:
* Virtue
* Godís Love
* School Competency
* Approval of Others
* Group Membership
* Friends & Family
* Power
* Physical Appearance

Of course, multiple other bases are also possible
 

Class Project Vignette

* Described interaction with a fellow student about a class project
* Partner either gives positive or negative feedback about your work
* This could either be seen as relevant to a sense of school competency or the approval of others
 

Reactions to the Vignette

* Participants who based their SE on school competency were more likely to say that the event would make them feel academically competent
* Participants who based thei SE on approval of others were more likely to say that the event would make them feel approved of
 

Attributions for Positive Outcome

* People who based their SE on school competency attributed the positive outcome of the interaction to their intellect and academic skill
* People who based their SE on approval of others attributed the positive outcome of the interaction to their interpersonal and social skill
 

Problems with this study

* Are people's self-reported hypothetical reactions accurate?
* Does this generalize to reactions to real-life events?
* Are there, as Linville might suggest, mental health implications of self-representations like depression?
 

Graduate School Study

* UM seniors applying to graduate school participated in a 2-month study
* Their bases of SE were measured, and their daily SE was measured on a webpage questionnaire
* Does basing SE on perceived school competency predict responses to graduate school admissions process?
* Yes, the more they base their SE on academic competency, the less stable their SE over the admissions
    period, and the more likely they are to be depressed in April
 

Conclusions

* Basing SE on school competency did predict reactions to admissions process
* The less stable a person's SE was over the two months, the more symptoms of depression they developed in
    April
* It does matter on what aspects you base your self-representation, and it does matter what sort of life events
    you experience
 
 

Go Back to 005 Main Page
Go Back to 007 Main Page
Go Back to Activities & Overheads Main Page