Cited by 278Attachment and Relationship DynamicsPersonality Traits and PsychologyDeath Anxiety and Social Exclusion

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Through the looking glass darkly? When self-doubts turn into relationship insecurities

Murray, Sandra L., Holmes, John G., MacDonald, Geoff, Ellsworth, Phoebe C.·1998·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

DOI 10.1037/0022-3514.75.6.1459

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Abstract

The authors argue that individuals regulate perceptions of their relationships in a self-protective way, finding virtue in their partners only when they feel confident that their partners also see virtues in them. In 4 experiments, the authors posed an acute threat to low and high self-esteem individuals' feelings of self-worth (e.g., guilt about a transgression, fears of being inconsiderate or intellectually inept). They then collected measures of confidence in the partner's positive regard and acceptance (i.e., reflected appraisals) and perceptions of the partner. The results revealed that low self-esteem individuals reacted to self-doubt with heightened doubts about their partners' regard, which then tarnished impressions of their partners. In contrast, high self-esteem individuals reacted to self-doubts by becoming more convinced of their partners' continued acceptance, using their relationships as a resource for self-affirmation.

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Authors: Murray, S. L., Holmes, J. G., MacDonald, G., & Ellsworth, P. C.
ORCID: Ellsworth, Phoebe C.
Venue: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 1998
Volume: 75
Issue: 6
Pages: 1459-1480
ISSN: 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
1939-1315
DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.75.6.1459
OpenAlex: W2169008446
Cited by: 276
References: 72
Citations by year: 2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 15
FWCI: 12.55
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
Keywords: self-esteem, self-doubt, relationship insecurity, self-affirmation, reflected appraisals, partner perceptions, self-worth, self-regulation, guilt, social acceptance, romantic relationships
MeSH terms: Adult, Analysis of Variance, Courtship, Female, Guilt, Humans, Intelligence Tests, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Models, Psychological, Self Concept, Truth Disclosure

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Through the looking glass darkly? When self-doubts turn into relationship insecurities

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