Self-esteem coloured glasses, top-down versus bottom-up processing in high and low self-esteem people's responses to positive self-discrepant feedback

Abstract

Although individuals with low self-esteem both receive and enjoy positive feedback, their global levels of self-esteem remain low over time. In hopes of shedding light on this puzzling state of affairs, this research examined how people with low and high self-esteem (LSEs and HSEs) respond to positive feedback. Fifty-four female participants received tailored feedback that they were high on a desired personality trait; HSEs and LSEs were matched on the self-discrepancy of the feedback. Via a "Think-Aloud" procedure, participants' thoughts were examined for the presence of "self-comparison" processes, as well as for their positivity versus negativity. Results indicated that, contrary to previous suggestions that HSEs and LSEs respond similarly to success, HSEs accepted the positive feedback to a greater extent than did LSEs. In addition, participants appeared to reach these conclusions through a deductive, "top-down" process, rather than by an inductive, "bottom-up" process. Implications for understanding the nature and maintenance of self-esteem, as well as for clinical interventions, are discussed.