Using Self-Esteem Instability To Disentangle the Connection Between Self-Esteem Level and Perceived Aggression

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2014

School

Psychology

Abstract

Recent debate has considered the connection between self-esteem and aggression. The present study attempted to clarify this association by examining the possibility that self-esteem instability moderates the association that self-esteem level has with aggression. Perceived aggression was measured in 234 (34 men and 200 women) undergraduate participants. These participants were then evaluated by 1078 friends and family members. Self-esteem instability was found to moderate the association between self-esteem level and aggression such that individuals with stable high self-esteem were viewed as being less aggressive than those with unstable high self-esteem or low self-esteem (regardless of whether their low self-esteem was stable or unstable). These findings are discussed in the context of understanding the connection between self-esteem and aggression. © 2014 Elsevier Inc.

Publication Title

Journal of Research in Personality

Volume

49

Issue

1

First Page

47

Last Page

51

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