Certainty as a moderator of feedback reactions? A test of the strength of the self‐verification motive

The present study investigated whether employees are merely interested in hearing good news about themselves, as predicted by self‐enhancement theory, or are more interested in feedback that confirms their self‐concept, as predicted by self‐verification theory. We examined in a field study whether self‐view certainty serves as a moderator and strengthens the effect of congruence between individuals' self‐views and the performance feedback they receive about these self‐views on feedback reactions. Polynomial regression results revealed that people mainly reacted favourably to positive feedback. Prior self‐views did not play a key role in explaining feedback reactions. As feedback scores were the main determinant of feedback reactions, it seems that feedback reactions are dominated by self‐enhancement strivings and that self‐verification strivings are less prominent. Little support was found for the moderating role of self‐view certainty.