How Do Individuals with Fragile High Self-esteem Cope with Intrusive Thoughts Following Ego Threat?

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated that individuals with fragile (defensive, unstable, or contingent) self-esteem are more likely to engage in defensive, self-promoting or self-protective behavior than are individuals with secure high self-esteem. The current study is the first to examine how well all three fragile self-esteem markers predict coping with negative intrusive thoughts following an ego threat. Consistent with the hypothesis, fragile self-esteem was associated with suppressing negative test-related thoughts, punishing the self for experiencing such thoughts, and downplaying the importance of the threat. The results add to the growing body of evidence documenting the maladaptive nature of fragile self-esteem, and suggest a mechanism by which these individuals may be vulnerable to anxiety and depression.

Keywords:

• Contingent self-esteem
• Defensive self-esteem
• Fragile self-esteem
• Thought suppression
• Unstable self-esteem

Notes

The above regressions were also run using the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale and the self-liking scale of the SLCS in place of the self-competence scale as the measure of explicit self-esteem. The patterns were fairly similar to those presented (though less strong), with the exception that contingent self-esteem did not interact with either the Rosenberg or the self-liking scale, but instead affected the dependent variables directly.