Connecting Attitude Position and Function: The Role of Self-esteem

Vaughan-Johnston, Thomas I.; Fowlie, Devin I.; Jacobson, Jill A.

Abstract

Attitude position and function often are discussed as though they are distinct aspects of attitudes, but scholars have become increasingly interested in how they may interface. We extend existing work showing that people view their positive attitudes as more self-defining than their negative attitudes (i.e., the positivity effect). All datasets support that the positivity effect emerged most strongly among high self-esteem individuals, and was attenuated, eliminated, or even reversed among low self-esteem individuals. Furthermore, Study 4 uses a broad array of individual difference measures to triangulate that the higher self-enhancement motivation associated with high self-esteem, rather than merely the positive self-worth of high self-esteem people, is responsible for moderating the positivity effect. In sum, the present work establishes boundary conditions for an important phenomenon in the attitudes literature, develops understanding of the far-ranging implications of trait self-esteem, and illuminates the psychological motivations that connect attitude position and function.

Citation

Vaughan-Johnston, T. I., Fowlie, D. I., & Jacobson, J. A. (2023). Connecting Attitude Position and Function: The Role of Self-esteem. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 49(9), 1344–1362. https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672221100866

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 23, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jun 21, 2022
• Publication Date: 2023-09
• Deposit Date: May 11, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: May 11, 2022
• Journal: Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
• Print ISSN: 0146-1672
• Electronic ISSN: 1552-7433
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 49
• Issue: 9
• Pages: 1344–1362
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672221100866
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1208451