The Functional Domain Specificity of Self-Esteem and the Differential Prediction of Aggression

On the basis of an evolutionary theory of self-esteem (SE), it was hypothesized that the SE-aggression relationship differs across functionally distinct domains of SE and across contexts. In 2 experiments, participants had the opportunity to aggress against the evaluator of an essay they had written...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of personality and social psychology 2002-05, Vol.82 (5), p.756-767
Main Authors: Kirkpatrick, Lee A, Waugh, Christian E, Valencia, Alelhie, Webster, Gregory D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Aggression
Aggression - psychology
Aggressive Behavior
Aggressiveness
Biological and medical sciences
Biological Evolution
Competitive Behavior
Contextual Associations
Dominance-Subordination
Female
Human
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Narcissism
Personality
Prediction
Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Risk Factors
Self Concept
Self image
Self-Esteem
Social behavior disorders. Criminal behavior. Delinquency
Social Identity
Social Inclusion
Social integration
Social psychology
Students - psychology
Theory
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Summary:On the basis of an evolutionary theory of self-esteem (SE), it was hypothesized that the SE-aggression relationship differs across functionally distinct domains of SE and across contexts. In 2 experiments, participants had the opportunity to aggress against the evaluator of an essay they had written. In Study 1, self-perceived superiority was positively related to aggression, whereas social inclusion was inversely related to aggression. In Study 2, in which the context was altered to simulate a mating competition, only a measure of self-perceived mate value emerged as a (positive) predictor of aggression. Global SE failed to contribute to the prediction of aggression in either experiment. Statistically controlling for narcissism did not eliminate either set of findings. Implications for the conceptualization and measurement of SE and narcissism are discussed.
ISSN:0022-3514
1939-1315
DOI:10.1037/0022-3514.82.5.756