Resolving conflicts among self-evaluative motives: Positive experiences as a resource for overcoming defensiveness

Author(s): Pomerantz, E. M.

Journal/Book: Motiv Emotion. 1998; 22: 233 Spring St, New York, NY 10013. Plenum Publ Corp. 53-72.

Abstract: The present research investigates how undergoing a negative or positive experience subsequently influences feedback seeking regarding self-attributes varying in self-relevance. Participants were offered feedback from earlier resting regarding their assets or liabilities for attaining various personal goals (general life goals or specific careers). Overall, self-relevance of a goal increased interest in both assets- and liabilities-focused feedback regarding that goal. As predicted, however the effect of self-relevance depended on whether participants initially failed or succeeded on an unrelated task. Specifically, after failure, the self-relevance of a goal was more likely to increase interest in assets-focused feedback than interest in liabilities-focused feedback. In contrast, after success, the self-relevance of a goal was equally or more likely to increase interest in liabilities-focused feedback than interest in assets-focused feedback. These results suggest that undergoing a positive or negative experience subsequently influences the relative weight of ego-defensive and self-assessment motives in feedback-seeking decisions.

Note: Article Trope Y, NYU, Dept Psychol, 6 Washington Pl, 7TH Floor, New York,NY 10003 USA

Keyword(s): ENHANCEMENT; MOOD; DETERMINANTS; CONSISTENCY; DEPRESSION; FEEDBACK; SUCCESS; ESTEEM; SEARCH; CHOICE

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