Domains of Clarity: Clarity of Competence and Clarity of Liking

The present research applies the distinction between self-liking and self-competence (Tafarodi & Swann, 2001) to self-concept clarity. Self-concept clarity refers to the degree to which an individual’s self-views are internally consistent, confidently held, and stable over time (Campbell et al., 1996). In Study 1, we examine this distinction within the context of change of state ratings of clarity and esteem over time. Results revealed that self-liking esteem and self-liking clarity strongly predict one another over time, and do so to a greater degree than do self-competence esteem and self-competence clarity. The reverse relationship was observed as well. Results also suggest that higher levels of self-liking clarity are associated with greater stability of self-liking esteem, but that this relationship does not hold for self-competence clarity and esteem. In Study 2, participants were presented with either threats to their self-liking, or threats to their self-competence. When presented with a competence threat, participants whose self-competence esteem or self-competence clarity were low expressed a greater desire to engage in liking-relevant behaviors, whereas those with high self-competence clarity and self-competence esteem reported a slightly higher desire to engage in liking related behaviors. Studies 3a and 3b considered self-liking and self-competence from a metacognitive perspective by using the ease of retrieval paradigm (Schwarz et al., 1991). It was predicted that individuals with high clarity would experience a drop in esteem when made to elaborate on relevant self-images, but the prediction was not supported. Implications for the relationship of self-liking and self-competence to each other and to global self-esteem and self-concept clarity are discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

The Ohio State University

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Agler, Robert A.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Arkin, Robert

• Social Psychology
• self-concept clarity
• self-esteem
• self-liking
• self-competence

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1357261464

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:osu1357261464