THE PERCEIVED DIRECTIONALITY OF THE LINK BETWEEN APPROVAL AND SELF-WORTH - THE LIABILITIES OF A LOOKING-GLASS SELF-ORIENTATION AMONG YOUNG ADOLESCENTS

This study examined three orientations toward the relation between pee r approval and global self-worth among young adolescents: (a) Self-wor th is based upon peer approval of the self, a looking glass self-orien tation; (b) self-worth is viewed as preceding approval from others; an d (c) no connection is reported between self-worth and peer approval. A number of liabilities of a looking glass self-orientation were hypot hesized and supported by the findings. Participants basing their self- worth on peer approval reported the greatest preoccupation with peer a pproval, they were most likely to be distracted from their schoolwork by peers (according to teachers' reports), they perceived the greatest fluctuations in both classmate approval and their self-worth, and the y reported lower levels of classmate approval (confirmed by teachers) and self-worth, compared to those reporting that self-worth precedes a pproval. Findings were discussed in terms of the need for a model that will elucidate the precursors of these three orientations and their c orrelates.