The Effects of Positive and Negative Self- Presentation on Female Self- Esteem and Relationship Choices

Stephanie Gunderson Robyn Hooker

Hanover College

Self-Presentation and Women

• The statements individuals make about themselves that reflect upon their self-concept and self-esteem.

• Women’s self-presentation is synonymous with their actual self-concept when talking to other females and they tend to disclose more about themselves (Leary et al., 1994) .

Consequences of Self-Presentation

• Also aids in forming the impressions that others can make about the speaker (Leary, Nezlek, & Downs, 1994).

• Positive self-presenters expect others to like

them, causing negative opinions (Baumeister, 1982).

Self-Concept as Tool for Judgment

Children named as friends those classmates who performed at a lower level than they themselves did on activities they considered important to them due to comparison processes (Tesser, Campbell, & Smith, 1984).

Perceptions of Women’s Self-Presentation

Britton, Martz, and Bazzini (2006) Participants were shown fat talk dialogue and

were asked how would a woman respond: – Self-Accepting of her body– No information provided about body– Self-degrading about her body

Hypotheses

We expect that participants will rate as more likeable and more likely want to be friends with those individuals who displayed more negative self- presentations rather than those who displayed positive self- presentation.

We also expect that participants with high self-esteem will prefer a person who displayed positive self-presentation and those with low self-esteem will prefer a person who displayed negative self-presentation.

Participants

• 33 female college students• Ages: 18-22• Ethnicity: Mostly Caucasian

Procedure

Listen and read dialogue situation between four women– First woman puts herself down– Three Responders:

• Self-degrading• Self-accepting• No information about self-concept

The Dialogue

Abby: Ugh, I am so fat.Ashley: Please, do you see how unattractive I am?Emily: I am so lucky to have good genes to keep me pretty.Hannah: Can we please get back to studying?

Method: Questionnaires

The Likeability Questionnaire – To measure the perceptions that the participants

had towards each confederates’ likeability in the study.

• How likely is it that you would be friends?• Do you feel this person is genuine?• Do you think this person has a number of good

qualities?

Method: Questionnaires

The Rosenberg Self- Esteem Scale– On the whole, I am satisfied with myself.– I feel that I’m a person of worth.– I wish I could have more respect for myself.

Likeability Means

Neutral Self- accepting Self- degrading

F(2,30) = 8.49, p = .001

More Likeable

Less Likeable

Likeability by Self-Esteem Levels

Neutral Self- accepting Self- degrading

Likeability by Self-Esteem Levels

Neutral Self- accepting Self- degrading

p = .208

Friendship Choice

F(2,31) = 27.73, p < .001

Neutral Self-accepting Self-degrading

More likely

Less likely

Friendship Choice by Self-Esteem Levels

Neutral Self-accepting Self-degrading

Friendship Choice by Self-Esteem Levels

Neutral Self-accepting Self-degrading

p = .05

Discussion

• Hypothesis supported: Participants preferred self- degrading over self- accepting individual. – Neutral individual received highest likeability

ratings.• Preference for neutral individual could be due

to participants’ not having enough information about her to make strong judgment.

Discussion

• Hypothesis about participants’ self- esteem not supported. – Marginal significance with high self- esteem and

liking Emily (self- accepting individual).• Comparison processes evident in friendship

choice for Ashley (self-degrading).

Limitations• Small sample size • Self-accepting woman may have been seen as

narcissistic by participants and therefore a flaw• Participants could be responding differently than

they would in actual situations.– More qualitative studies with small groups of

friends may be beneficial.• Homogeneity of sample: All Caucasian

– Different ethnicities could give different responses.

Questions ?