Fragile High Self-Esteem, Self-Doubt, and Destructive Behavior

脆弱的高自尊、自我怀疑和破坏性行为

• 批准号: 0951415
• 负责人: Mark Seery
• 金额: $ 22.42万
• 依托单位: SUNY at Buffalo
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-10-01 至 2014-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0951415&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Fragile; Self; Esteem; Doubt; Destructive

This project investigates the relationships between fragile high self-esteem, self-doubt, and self- and other-focused destructive behavior. Self-esteem has been a topic of substantial interest to researchers and the public alike because of high self-esteem's presumed importance for psychological well-being. Recent evidence, however, suggests that high self-esteem comprises subtypes, and that one subtype in particular, fragile high self-esteem, may be associated with undesirable qualities that have important societal implications, such as aggression in the face of perceived threat. This research includes 5 studies which use psychophysiological measures to offer new insight into the experience of people with fragile high-self esteem. The proposed research can advance existing knowledge in a number of major ways. For example, although multiple facets of fragile high self-esteem have been linked theoretically, a core element -- easily activated self-doubt -- has yet to be empirically demonstrated. In this work, it will be tested as a core element. In addition, a range of seemingly disparate behaviors that are destructive to the self and others will also be investigated. The distinct bodies of evidence associated with the destructive behaviors will be bridged by testing a common link to easily activated self-doubt among people with fragile high self-esteemThis research seeks to illuminate why people with fragile high self-esteem engage in destructive behavior and as such it has several potential benefits for society. First, substantial resources are regularly invested in trying to raise people's self-esteem. Understanding fragile high self-esteem will help to ensure that such well-intended efforts do not inadvertently create it. Second, this research can suggest methods to prevent people from engaging in costly destructive behavior. The behaviors under investigation include aggression and ethnic discrimination, both of which contribute to important social problems. Given these benefits, results of the proposed research should generate broad interest in both the field of psychology and the general public.

这个项目调查脆弱的高自尊，自我怀疑，自我和他人为中心的破坏性行为之间的关系。自尊一直是研究人员和公众感兴趣的话题，因为高自尊对心理健康的重要性。然而，最近的证据表明，高自尊包括亚型，特别是一个亚型，脆弱的高自尊，可能与具有重要社会影响的不良品质有关，例如面对感知威胁时的攻击性。 本研究包括5项研究，这些研究使用心理生理学测量方法对脆弱的高自尊人群的经历提供了新的见解。 拟议的研究可以在许多主要方面推进现有的知识。例如，虽然脆弱的高自尊的多个方面在理论上已经联系在一起，但一个核心因素-容易被激活的自我怀疑-还没有得到实证证明。 在这项工作中，它将作为一个核心要素进行测试。此外，还将调查一系列看似完全不同的行为，这些行为对自我和他人都具有破坏性。与破坏性行为相关的不同证据将通过测试脆弱的高自尊人群中容易激活的自我怀疑的共同联系来弥合。这项研究旨在阐明为什么脆弱的高自尊人群会从事破坏性行为，因此它对社会有几个潜在的好处。 首先，经常投入大量资源，努力提高人们的自尊。了解脆弱的高自尊将有助于确保这种善意的努力不会无意中造成它。第二，这项研究可以建议方法，以防止人们从事昂贵的破坏性行为。被调查的行为包括攻击性和种族歧视，这两种行为都会导致重要的社会问题。鉴于这些好处，拟议的研究结果应该在心理学领域和公众中产生广泛的兴趣。