Two paths of defense: Specific versus compensatory reactions to self-threat

Eisenstadt and Leippe (1994 Leippe, M. R., and Eisenstadt, D., 1994. Generalization of dissonance reduction: Decreasing prejudice through induced compliance, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 67 (1994), pp. 395–413.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) and Eisenstadt, Leippe, and Rivers (2002 Eisenstadt, D., Leippe, M. R., and Rivers, J. A., 2002. Asymmetry and defense in self-comparison: Differential reactions to feedback about the rejected and ideal selves, Self and Identity 1 (2002), pp. 289–311.[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) proposed that people respond to threatening feedback by engaging in a self-comparison process in which they ultimately accept or reject the feedback based on its refutability. The aims of the current study were to test the processes involved in: (a) specific feedback acceptance and refutation; and (b) compensatory adjustments in the self-concept following feedback. Participants received threatening feedback of high or low importance while under high or low cognitive load and then rated the self-descriptiveness of the specific feedback trait, non-feedback traits, affect, state self-esteem, and listed thoughts about the feedback. As hypothesized, counterarguments mediated acceptance of the specific feedback. Affect and state self-esteem, however, mediated compensatory adjustments in the self-concept.