Cited by 1,381Personality Traits and PsychologySocial and Intergroup PsychologyPsychological Testing and Assessment

Self-esteem and clarity of the self-concept.

Campbell, Jennifer D.·1990·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

Abstract

This article examines the association between evaluative and knowledge components of the self. Four studies tested the hypothesis that the self-concepts of low-self-esteem (LSE) people are characterized by less clarity or certainty than those of high-self-esteem (HSE) people. LSE Ss exhibited less extremity and self-reported confidence when rating themselves on bipolar trait adjectives (Study 1), less temporal stability in their trait ratings over a 2-month interval (Study 2), less congruence between their self-concepts and their subsequent perceptions of situation-specific behavior and memory for prior behavior (Study 3), and less internal consistency, lower self-rated confidence, and longer reaction times when making me/not me responses to pairs of opposite traits (Study 4). Alternative accounts of the results and the implications of self-concept clarity for understanding the pervasive impact of self-esteem on behavior are discussed.

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Crossref · 10.1037/0022-3514.59.3.538

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Authors
Campbell, J. D.
Affiliations
University of British Columbia (CA)
Corresponding author
Campbell, Jennifer D.
Venue
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Published
1990
Volume
59
Issue
3
Pages
538-549
ISSN
  • 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1315
OpenAlex
W1976749919
Cited by
1,381
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 37 · 2025: 58 · 2024: 71 · 2023: 76 · 2022: 46 · 2021: 51 · 2020: 89 · 2019: 65 · 2018: 50 · 2017: 50 · 2016: 52 · 2015: 59 · 2014: 61 · 2013: 42 · 2012: 49
FWCI
17.43
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Psychological Testing and Assessment
Keywords
self-esteem, self-concept clarity, self-concept, self-assessment, self-rated confidence, internal consistency
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Female, Humans, Individuality, Male, Personality Development, Personality Tests, Self Concept, Social Environment

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