Cited by 2,519Death Anxiety and Social ExclusionPersonality Traits and PsychologyBullying, Victimization, and Aggression

Self-esteem as an interpersonal monitor: The sociometer hypothesis

Leary, Mark R., Tambor, Ellen S., Terdal, Sonja K., Downs, Deborah L.·1995·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

Abstract

Five studies tested hypotheses derived from the sociometer model of self-esteem according to which the self-esteem system monitors others' reactions and alerts the individual to the possibility of social exclusion. Study 1 showed that the effects of events on participants' state self-esteem parallel

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Crossref · 10.1037/0022-3514.68.3.518

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70 of 70 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Communal experiences predict state self-esteem, both in experimental studies manipulating social inclusion and in naturalistic settings with relationship quality as predictor.

    “Consistent with this school of thought, communal experiences were found to predict state self-esteem, both in experimental studies in which social inclusion was manipulated (e.g., Leary et al., 1995) and in naturalistic settings with relationship quality as predictor (e.g., Denissen et al., 2008).”
  • Trait extensions of sociometer theory have been tested and found valid.

    “To begin, trait extensions of sociometer theory have been tested and been found valid (M.R. Leary, Tambor, Terdal, & Downs, 1995).”
  • A drop in self-esteem serves as a warning signal of potential social exclusion and motivates the individual to take steps to avoid rejection and improve one's standing in the social hierarchy.

    “A drop in self-esteem serves as a warning signal of potential social exclusion and motivates the individual to take steps to avoid rejection and improve one's standing in the social hierarchy”

    From Why do people use Facebook? (2012) · cites this paper as Leary, Tambor, Terdal, & Downs, 1995

  • Self-esteem may act as a sociometer, a monitor of one's acceptability to the group.

    “It has been proposed that self-esteem may act as a sociometer – a monitor of one's acceptability to the group.”

    From Why do people use Facebook? (2012) · cites this paper as Leary, Tambor, Terdal, & Downs, 1995

  • According to the sociometer theory, shifts in self-views serve to reflect inclusionary status, with a drop in self-views signaling risk of exclusion.

    “According to the sociometer theory (46), shifts in self-views serve to reflect inclusionary status, with a drop in self-views signaling risk of exclusion.”

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Authors
Leary, M. R., Tambor, E. S., Terdal, S. K., & Downs, D. L.
Affiliations
Wake Forest University (US)
Venue
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Published
1995-03
Volume
68
Issue
3
Pages
518-530
ISSN
  • 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1315
OpenAlex
W2135604017
Cited by
2,519
References
70
Citations by year
2026: 113 · 2025: 95 · 2024: 112 · 2023: 98 · 2022: 127 · 2021: 138 · 2020: 144 · 2019: 143 · 2018: 107 · 2017: 124 · 2016: 130 · 2015: 124 · 2014: 113 · 2013: 116 · 2012: 108
FWCI
21.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
Keywords
self-esteem, social exclusion, state self-esteem, social rejection

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