Webster, G. D., & Kirkpatrick, L. A. (2003). Behavioral and
self-reported aggression as a function of domain-specific self-esteem.
Manuscript submitted for publication.
Abstract
On the basis of a domain-specific theory of self-esteem, it was hypothesized
that functionally distinct domains of self-esteem would predict aggression
differentially. Participants completed self-report measures of self-perceived
superiority, mate value, social inclusion, and global self-esteem, as well
as of aggression. Self-assessed mate value emerged as a reliable, positive
predictor, and social inclusion as a reliable inverse predictor, of self-reported
hostility and aggression. In a subsequent laboratory experiment, in which
participants had an opportunity to aggress against the source of positive
or negative feedback about a personal essay that had written, mate value
again predicted increased aggression, whereas global self-esteem predicted
decreased aggression. These main effects were moderated by the feedback
manipulation, such that their respective simple effects were only present
among participants that received negative feedback. [full
text in Acrobat (.pdf) format]
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