How do people respond to role models?, the role of analogical reasoning and self-esteem in comparisons to superior others

Abstract

What makes a role model relevant? In previous research, we found that individuals were influenced by a role model only when they were similar to the role model on superficial attributes such as occupation type; participants perceived a role model in their own career area as relevant, but perceived a career mismatched role model as irrelevant (Lockwood & Kunda, 1997). In my dissertation, I demonstrated that the need for career matching may be overcome if individuals can form an analogy between themselves and a role model based on structural rather than superficial similarities. In two studies, I highlighted a structural similarity by indicating that a career mismatched role model had overcome an obstacle in order to achieve success; because participants faced obstacles in their own careers, it was expected that they would be able to form an analogy between themselves and the role model despite the difference in occupation type, and so would perceive the otherwise irrelevant role model as relevant.

In Study 1, low self-esteem participants' self-perceptions were more strongly affected by a career mismatched role model who had overcome poor university grades than by a role model who had not; high self-esteem participants were affected by both role models. In Study 2, both high and low self-esteem White participants' self-views were more strongly affected by a Black role model who had overcome discrimination than by a White role model who had not overcome this obstacle. High and low self-esteem participants' self-schemas also influenced the kinds of structural similarities that they perceived themselves to share with the role models.

In both studies, the direction of a relevant role model's impact was determined by self-esteem; low self-esteem participants, who were less likely to believe that they could become as successful as the role model, were negatively affected; high self-esteem participants, who were more likely to see the role model's achievements as attainable, were positively affected.