On the confluence of self-esteem maintenance mechanisms

Tesser, Abraham

doi:10.1207/s15327957pspr0404_1

Cited by 522Death Anxiety and Social ExclusionSocial and Intergroup PsychologyPersonality Traits and Psychology

On the confluence of self-esteem maintenance mechanisms

Tesser, Abraham·2000·Personality and Social Psychology Review

DOI 10.1207/s15327957pspr0404_1

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Abstract

A case is made for the substitutability of self-esteem regulation mechanisms such as cognitive dissonance reduction, self-affirmation, and social comparison. For example, a threat to self via cognitive dissonance might be reduced by a favorable social comparison outcome. To explain substitution, it is suggested that self-esteem regulation mechanisms inevitably produce affect and that affect mediates the completion of various self-esteem regulation processes. Substitution can be understood in terms of the transfer of affect from the initial mechanism to the substitute mechanism. To be effective, this transfer must take place without awareness. Also discussed is the substitution of self-esteem regulation mechanisms across different self-domains versus within a single self-domain. Current theory suggests that substitution might be more effective within domain; that is, it is better to bolster the aspect of self that has been threatened. It is suggested here, however, that substitution across self-domain might be relatively resilient and easier to accomplish.

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Adults have a complex, multifaceted self-concept and can draw upon alternative domains of self-views to buffer against threat in a specific domain.
“Research has shown that adults have a complex, multifaceted self-concept and can draw upon alternative domains of self-views to buffer against threat in a specific domain (41).”
From Development of self-protective biases in response to social evaluative feedback (2017) · cites this paper as [41]

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Self-Esteem Regulation: A Multi-Method Perspective on Strategy Use and Underlying Mechanisms
Adam, K. (2025) · doi:10.23668/psycharchives.21077

Authors: Tesser, A.
Affiliations: The Ohio State University (US)
Corresponding author: Tesser, Abraham
Venue: Personality and Social Psychology Review
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2000-11
Volume: 4
Issue: 4
Pages: 290-299
ISSN: 1088-8683 (ISSN-L)
1532-7957
DOI: 10.1207/s15327957pspr0404_1
OpenAlex: W2172118262
Cited by: 521
References: 70
Citations by year: 2026: 12 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 38 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 30 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 35 · 2012: 28
FWCI: 14.47
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Personality and Social Psychology Review (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
Keywords: self-esteem regulation, dissonance reduction, self-affirmation, social comparison, affect transfer, self-threat, self-esteem maintenance

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On the confluence of self-esteem maintenance mechanisms

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