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

Authors

Virgil Zeigler-Hill, University of Southern MississippiFollow
C. Brendan Clark, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Tamra E. Beckham, University of Southern Mississippi

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2011

Department

Psychology

Abstract

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 = 327), low implicit self-esteem (N = 288), or contingent self-esteem (N = 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 self-esteem 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.

Publication Title

Self and Identity

Volume

10

Issue

4

First Page

509

Last Page

536

Recommended Citation

Zeigler-Hill, V., Clark, C., Beckham, T. E. (2011). Fragile Self-esteem and the Interpersonal Circumplex: Are Feelings of Self-worth Associated with Interpersonal Style?. Self and Identity, 10(4), 509-536.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/622