Contingencies of Self-Worth by E. J. Horberg and Serena Chen

Self-worth

Contingencies of self-worth describe people being selective about the domains on which they base their self-esteem. Three studies were done by E. J. Horberg and Serena Chen at the University of California, Berkley on significant others and contingencies of self –worth. Three studies tested the activation and consequences of contingencies of self-worth associated with specific significant others, that is, relationship-specific contingencies of self-worth. The results showed that activating the mental representation of a significant other with whom one strongly likes or is close to let participants to risk their self-esteem in areas in which the significant other wanted them to excel. This was shown in terms of self-reported contingencies of self-worth (Study 1), in terms of self-worth after receiving feedback on a successful or unsatisfactory performance in a relationship-specific contingency area (Study 2), and in terms of feelings of low self-worth after thinking about a failure in a relationship-specific contingency area (Study 3). Across studies, a variety of contingency areas were examined. Also, Study 3 showed that failing in an activated relationship-specific contingency area had negative implications for current feelings of closeness and acceptance in the significant-other relationship. Overall, the findings suggested that people’s contingencies of self-worth depend on that particular social situation and that performance in relationship-specific contingency areas can influence people’s ideas of their relationships (Holberg & Chen, 2010). Contingencies of self-worth along with self-esteem can have an effect on pursuing one’s goals.

Goal Pursuit

It is believed throughout the social psychology community that sig...

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...ry. It is definite that a person’s interpersonal as well as intrapersonal thoughts, experiences, and views shape the self. Relationships among significant others seems to have the most influential effects on the self. Therefore, the relational self could be defined as the self that is experienced in relation to the significant others in a person’s life.

Future research on this topic could address how the relational self is relevant to other psychological concepts such parental and peer attachment. The strength of the relationship would influence to what extent the effect would actually have. It would be also interesting to possibly study negative attitudes towards significant others and the transference that occurs within the realms of those relationships. Examples would be: rebelling teens and their parents, long time feuding family members, neighbors, or coworkers.