1. Distinguishing Between Fragile and Secure Forms of High Self-esteem: The Importance of Stability of Self- esteem Michael Kernis University of Georgia

2. Overview What’s wrong with this picture? Secure versus fragile high self-esteem Stability of self-esteem as marker Research findings –Perceptions of parent-child communication –Self-regulatory styles –Authenticity –Relationship functioning –Psychological adjustment Conclusions

4. Collaborators Josh Foster Brian Goldman Whitney Heppner Alison Herrmann Chad Lakey Andrew Paradise Wormer (“Worm”) Patches (“Psycho”) Mischief (“Queen”) Woody (“Brainiac”)

5. Secure High Self-esteem Feel worthwhile and valuable Like and satisfied with oneself Accept weaknesses Built upon solid foundation Does NOT require continual validation or promotion

6. Fragile High Self-esteem Feel very proud and seemingly confident Do not like to see weaknesses in themselves Quick to defend against possible threats to self-worth Engage in excessive self-promoting activities

7. Synthesis Whereas some people possess fragile high self-esteem, other people possess secure high self-esteem. This raises the difficult issue of how to distinguish between them. Traditional measures are not very helpful.

8. Rosenberg’s (1965) Self-esteem Scale I feel that I am a person of worth, at least on an equal plane with others I feel like a person who has a number of good qualities I take a positive attitude toward myself I wish that I could have more respect for myself ®

9. Markers Fragile High Secure High Unstablevs Stable Contingentvs True Low Implicitvs High Implicit Defensivevs Genuine Kernis (2003). Psychological Inquiry

10. Level of Self-esteem People’s general or typical feelings of self-worth: High or Low Self-esteem scale completed once, based on “how you generally or typically feel about yourself”

11. Stability of Self-esteem Magnitude of short-term fluctuations in situationally-based feelings of self- worth Self-esteem measure completed multiple times over 5-7 days based on “how you feel at this moment”

12. Stable vs Unstable Self-esteem Unstable Self-esteem: Substantial short-term fluctuations in contextually based immediate feelings of self-worth Stable Self-esteem: Minimal short-term fluctuations

13. People With Unstable Self-esteem Self-feelings more affected by everyday negative and positive events (Greenier, Kernis, et al.,1999) Greater increases in depressive symptoms when faced with daily hassles (Kernis et al., 1998),

14. (Cont.) Overgeneralize negative implications of specific failures (Kernis et al., 1998) Adopt a cautious, self-esteem protective orientation toward learning as opposed to curiosity and challenge seeking (6 th grade children; Waschull & Kernis, 1996) Impoverished self-concepts (Kernis et al., 2000) Goal directed behaviors regulated suboptimally (Kernis et al., 2000)

15. Children’s Perceptions of Their Father’s Communication Patterns Compared to children with stable SE, children with unstable SE were more likely to report that their fathers –Nagged, bothered, and insulted them when he was angry –Called them names like stupid and lazy –Were psychologically controlling –e.g., “If you loved me, you would do what I want you to do” –Infrequently talked about the good things they had done –Did not offer verbal encouragement, physical affection, or to do something together when he was happy with them or their behavior

16. Self-regulation and Goal Strivings (from Deci & Ryan’s work) Intrinsic: interest and enjoyment Identified: growth and development Introjected: avoiding guilt and anxiety, self-worth contingencies, “shoulds” External: rewards and punishments

18. Patches I always spray against the inside of the kitchen door in the morning—I can’t help myself. I’d feel really guilty if I missed a day (Introjected). I chase Mischief because I have to prove to myself that I still “have it.” I feel so proud when I corner her (Introjected).

20. Wormer I always touch somebody–at the least, I stretch a paw so that I have some contact. It’s so much fun! I hope that my new brother Woody likes to “spoon” (Intrinsic). I eat too much food too quickly and I vomit it all back up, always close to my parents so they can see it. As soon as it’s clean, I start eating again. I believe it’s important to have a full stomach (Identified).

22. Woody I try to do what I should do to be “cute” so my brothers will accept me (Introjected) I already get my parents to bring me kitty milk and treats. Now I have to figure out what I need to do to get catnip (External) I’m too young to know what I think is important to my cat-concept–check back with me after I’ve been neutered

23. Self-esteem Stability and Self-regulatory Styles (Kernis et al., 2000) Intrinsic: -.31 Identified: -.30 The more unstable, the less intrinsic and identified Introjected:.21 Extrinsic:.33 The more unstable, the more extrinsic and introjected

24. Authenticity The unimpeded operation of one’s true or core self in one’s daily enterprise Four components: (1) awareness (2) unbiased processing (3) behavior (4) relational orientation

25. Awareness Awareness of, and trust in, one’s motives, feelings, desires, and self-relevant cognitions. “I am in touch with my motives and desires” “I understand why I believe the things I do about myself”

26. Unbiased Processing Not denying, distorting, exaggerating, nor ignoring private knowledge, internal experiences, and externally based self-evaluative information. “I’d rather feel good about myself than objectively assess my personal limitations and shortcomings” (reverse scored)

27. Behavior Acting in accord with one’s values, preferences, and needs versus acting merely to please others or to attain rewards or avoid punishments “I find that my behavior typically expresses my values” “I’ve often done things that I don’t want to do merely not to disappoint people” (reverse scored)

28. Relational Valuing and achieving openness and truthfulness in one’s close relationships “My openness and honesty in close relationships are extremely important to me” “It is important for me to understand my close others' needs and desires”

29. Correlations Between Self-esteem Level, Stability, and Authenticity Level Stability Aware.26* -.29** Process.08 -.33** Behave.35** -.24** Relate.22* -.01 Total.32** -.29** * = p <.05 ** = p <.01

30. Preview People with UNSTABLE HIGH self- esteem: –defensive and self-aggrandizing –lower in psychological health and well- being –e.g., especially prone toward anger and hostility

31. Predicted Values on Novaco Inventory (Kernis et al., 1989)

32. Self-promotion Among Unstable High SE Individuals Report being likely to boast about success to their friends (Kernis et al., 1997) Report success in spite of interfering factors (Kernis, Grannemann, & Barclay, 1992)

33. Implications for Relationship Functioning (Kernis, Goldman, & Paradise, in preparation) People with unstable high self-esteem will be highly sensitive to potentially aversive partner actions This heightened sensitivity will undermine relationship quality

34. Relationship Study (Kernis, Goldman, & Paradise) Developed Relationship Reaction Inventory (RRI) Inventory consists of nine scenarios depicting potentially aversive partner behaviors For each scenario, four possible responses depicted Two suggest overinvestment of self: “internalize” and “get even” Two suggest minimal investment of self: “benign” and “minimize”

35. Your Partner Leaves a Note Around With a Person Named Pat and You Don’t Know Anyone Named Pat… Minimize: think that the note is nothing to be concerned about Benign: think that it’s okay for your partner to know people whom you don’t Internalize: think that your partner is untrustworthy and might be betraying you Get even: plan to leave a similar note for your partner to find in the next several days

36. Your Partner Gives You a Nice Birthday Present, but It Isn’t What You Subtly Let Him/her Know That You Really Wanted… Minimize: Enjoy the present that you got Benign: Think that circumstances beyond his/her control must have prevented it Internalize: Think that you must not be important enough to him/her Get even: In the future, give him/her a present other than what she/he really wants

37. Your Partner Does Not Look Up From What He or She Is Doing When You First Enter the Room and Begin Talking. You Ask Several Questions and Still Your Partner Answers Without Looking Up … Minimize: not think very much about it Benign: think that your partner is engrossed in something very interesting or important Internalize: think that your partner does not care, value, or respect you enough Get even: go about your business, but treat your partner that very same way when he/she later approaches you

38. “Benign”

39. “Minimize”

40. “Get Even”

41. “Internalize”

42. Perceptions of Relationship Quality (Spanier measure) Affection: Agree on amount of affection, displays of love Cohesiveness: Stimulating conversation, laugh, discuss, work together on something Satisfaction: Want relationship to succeed, happy with relationship, think things are going well, don’t quarrel, don’t get on each other’ nerves

43. “Affection”

44. “Cohesiveness”

45. “Satisfaction”

46. Mediation Summary Affectio n Satisfac tion Cohesiv eness Overall Benign NOYESNO Minimize NOYESNO Internaliz e YES NOYES Get Even YES

47. Conclusions from Relationship Study Unstable High SEs report lower relationship quality than do Stable High SEs Unstable High SEs report higher “get even” and “internalize” responses than do Stable High SEs The degree to which people report these responses accounts for this difference in perceived relationship quality

48. Self-esteem Stability and Overall Psychological Adjustment (Paradise & Kernis, 2002) Unstable high less than stable high –Self-acceptance –Positive relations with others –Autonomy –Environmental mastery –Purpose in life Subscales of Ryff’s (1989) Multidimensional Well-Being Scale

49. Environmental Mastery

50. Overall Summary and Implications High self-esteem can be fragile or secure Stable = Secure; Unstable = Fragile This distinction has important implications for how high self-esteem relates to interpersonal functioning and psychological adjustment A full understanding of self-esteem processes requires consideration of both stability and level of self-esteem