Contingent Self-Esteem and the Interpersonal Circumplex: The Interpersonal Pursuit of Self-Esteem

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2006

Department

Psychology

Abstract

Contingencies of self-worth refer to those domains upon which an individual has based their self-esteem such as physical appearance or the approval of others. The present study examined whether self-esteem contingencies were associated with particular interpersonal styles in a sample of 356 undergraduates. The interpersonal circumplex (Wiggins et al., 1989) served as the nomological system for evaluating the interpersonal styles associated with the contingencies of self-esteem. A nurturant interpersonal style was associated with basing self-esteem on the support of one's family or God's love. In contrast, individuals who based their self-esteem on outdoing others in competition reported a hostile interpersonal style. The remaining contingencies of self-worth were not as strongly related to interpersonal style. These findings suggest that the domains upon which individuals base their self-esteem are distinguishable with regard to their interpersonal styles. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Publication Title

Personality and Individual Differences

Volume

40

Issue

4

First Page

713

Last Page

723

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