Responsive Low Self-Esteem: Low Explicit Self-Esteem, Implicit Self-Esteem, and Reactions to Performance Outcomes

Abstract

Whereas some research has found that low self-esteem individuals (LSEs) with high implicit self-esteem fare better psychologically than those with low implicit self-esteem, other research has found they fare worse. In an attempt to integrate and extend this work, we propose that the well-being of LSEs with high implicit self-esteem is responsive to outcomes in important domains; they are more debilitated than LSEs with low implicit self-esteem by negative outcomes but benefit more from positive outcomes. In Study 1, LSEs with high implicit self-esteem had higher state self-esteem than those with low implicit self-esteem after positive feedback. In Study 2, LSEs with high implicit self-esteem had higher well-being (higher trait self-esteem and less severe depressive symptoms) than LSEs with low implicit self-esteem two weeks after receiving high grades, but lower well-being after receiving low grades. Thus, individuals with discrepant low self-esteem might be aptly characterized as having responsive self-esteem.