Reaction Measure

Kernis, Michael H.; Greenier, Keegan D.; Herlocker, Caryn E.; Whisenhunt, Connie R.; Abend, Teresa A.

doi:10.1037/t14673-000

Cited by 5 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 0 publications

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“…In essence, individuals with this interpersonal style seek to maximize benefits for the self while minimizing benefits for others. Our prediction that individuals with fragile high selfesteem would be characterized by an Arrogant-Calculating (BC) interpersonal style is consistent with previous research showing that fragile high self-esteem is associated with defensiveness (e.g., Bosson et al, 2003;Kernis et al, 2008), selfaggrandizement (Kernis, Greenier, Herlocker, Whisenhunt, & Abend, 1997), and the tendency to experience anger and hostility (Kernis et al, 1989). It has also been shown that fragile high self-esteem has a complex and inconsistent association with narcissism (see Bosson et al, 2008, for a review), which has been found to be characterized by an Arrogant-Calculating (BC) interpersonal style (Bradlee & Emmons, 1992;Gurtman, 1992;Ruiz, Smith, & Rhodewalt, 2001).…”

Section: Overview and Predictionssupporting

confidence: 78%

“…The fragile feelings of self-worth that characterize individuals with unstable high self-esteem may stem from overly simplistic cognitive representations of the self (e.g., Zeigler-Hill & Showers, 2007). Unstable self-esteem has been shown to be associated with a variety of self-aggrandizing and defensive behaviors such as boasting about a recent success to one's friends (Kernis et al, 1997), reporting higher levels of anger and hostility (Kernis et al, 1989), and employing a variety of defensive strategies Myers & Zeigler-Hill, 2008;Zeigler-Hill, Chadha, & Osterman, 2008). The interpersonal consequences of self-esteem instability may be due, at least in part, to the high levels of ego-involvement in daily activities that characterize these 514…”

Section: Study 1: Unstable Self-esteemmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Fragile Self-esteem and the Interpersonal Circumplex: Are Feelings of Self-worth Associated with Interpersonal Style?

2010

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The interpersonal content and cohesion of secure and fragile forms of self-esteem were examined across three studies using undergraduate participants. Each study focused on a single marker of fragile self-esteem: unstable self-esteem (N ¼ 327), low implicit self-esteem (N ¼ 288), or contingent self-esteem (N ¼ 347). Across these three markers, self-esteem fragility was found to be strongly associated with the interpersonal styles of men but not women. Men with fragile high selfesteem were characterized by a blend of dominance and hostility, whereas other individuals with high self-esteem were characterized by a blend of dominance and nurturance. The interpersonal styles associated with true and uncertain forms of low self-esteem were diverse and ranged from hostility to nurturance. These findings suggest that secure and fragile forms of self-esteem possess significant interpersonal content and are distinguishable with regard to their interpersonal styles. Implications for the interpersonal nature of fragile self-esteem are discussed.

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Section: Overview and Predictionssupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Study 1: Unstable Self-esteemmentioning

confidence: 98%

Fragile Self-esteem and the Interpersonal Circumplex: Are Feelings of Self-worth Associated with Interpersonal Style?

2010

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“…In addition, based on previous work documenting defensive reactions to failure among those with fragile self-esteem (e.g., Kernis et al, 1997Kernis et al, , 2008Park, Crocker, & Kiefer, 2007), we predicted that individuals with fragile selfesteem would choose to rationalize their negative performance by downplaying the importance and validity of the test. We further suspected that individuals with fragile self-esteem might become angry at or punish themselves for experiencing negative intrusive thoughts.…”

Section: Overview Of the Current Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Relative to stable high self-esteem, unstable high selfesteem is associated with a host of negative outcomes, including increased sensitivity to negative feedback , greater excuse-making following success as a means of self-enhancement (Kernis, Grannemann, & Barclay, 1992), greater selfhandicapping when success is meaningful (Newman & Wadas, 1997), higher levels of boasting to friends about a success (Kernis, Greenier, Herlocker, Whisenhunt, & Abend, 1997), higher trait levels of anger and hostility (Kernis et al, 1989b), greater defensive and hostile reactions to a perceived relationship transgression (Kernis, 2005), lower self-acceptance (Paradise & Kernis, 2002), and less positive relations with others (Paradise & Kernis, 2002).…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

How Do Individuals with Fragile High Self-esteem Cope with Intrusive Thoughts Following Ego Threat?

et al. 2012

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Previous research has demonstrated that individuals with fragile (defensive, unstable, or contingent) self-esteem are more likely to engage in defensive, selfpromoting or self-protective behavior than are individuals with secure high self-esteem. The current study is the first to examine how well all three fragile self-esteem markers predict coping with negative intrusive thoughts following an ego threat. Consistent with the hypothesis, fragile self-esteem was associated with suppressing negative test-related thoughts, punishing the self for experiencing such thoughts, and downplaying the importance of the threat. The results add to the growing body of evidence documenting the maladaptive nature of fragile self-esteem, and suggest a mechanism by which these individuals may be vulnerable to anxiety and depression.

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“…Self-esteem stability refers to the magnitude of short-term fluctuations around a person's typical or baseline level of trait SE (Kernis, 1993(Kernis, , 2005Kernis, Cornell, Sun, Berry, & Harlow, 1993). Unstable HSE-corresponding to high trait SE coupled with a high degree of variability in momentary state SE-has been associated with greater defensiveness than stable HSE in a number of contexts (e.g., Kernis, Grannemann, & Barclay, 1989;Kernis, Greenier, Herlocker, Whisenhunt, & Abend, 1997;Kernis, Lakey, & Heppner, 2008;Kernis et al, 1993). An explanation for such differences is that unstable HSE is associated with easily activated self-doubt; previously observed defensiveness may reflect attempts to assuage self-doubt.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%