Competence strivings and self-esteem: An experimental study

The theoretical assumption that the role of competence for self-esteem acquisition is dependent upon an individualʹs basic sense of self-esteem was experimentally tested. Sixty psychology students with high or low self-esteem and with or without a need to earn self-esteem by competence (measured by two new scales) received false feedback of success or failure on successive achievement tasks of which they were free to choose degree of difficulty. When confronted with failure, the group characterized by low self-esteem and high need to earn self-esteem employed a maladaptive strategy increasing their ambition (indicated by the measurement of heart-rate and choice of difficulty) at the expense of performance. The two groups with high sense of self-esteem, in turn, lowered their ambition and hence performed better. These findings were interpreted as supporting the general hypothesis that the relation between competence and self-esteem may be hierarchical and asymmetrical in that competence may enhance or maintain a good sense of self-esteem but contribute little when self-esteem is absent.