SELF-CONSISTENCY, SELF-ENHANCEMENT, AND ACCURACY IN REACTIONS TO FEEDBACK

An experiment tested predictions generated by a model of the role of s elf-consistency, self-enhancement, and accuracy in reactions to feedba ck. The model proposed that affective reactions would be dominated by self-enhancement, that attributions and perceptions of feedback accura cy would be dominated by seif-consistency, and that self-evaluations a nd expectations for future performance would reflect both self-consist ency and accuracy. One hundred seventy-two subjects received either po sitive or negative feedback regarding their performance on an anagrams test. Results generally supported the model. Self-enhancement dominat ed affective responses: Subjects felt better after receiving positive feedback than after receiving negative feedback. Self-consistency effe cts emerged for attributions and perceptions of feedback accuracy: (1) Those high in self-esteem accepted more responsibility for receiving positive feedback than negative feedback, and they viewed positive fee dback as more accurate; (2) Those low in self-esteem accepted more res ponsibility for negative feedback than positive feedback, and perceive d negative feedback as more accurate. Reflecting both accuracy and sel f-consistency, there were main effects for both feedback and self-este em on self-evaluations and expectations. Discussion focuses on how thi s study supports the model, the value of distinguishing among differen t types of cognitive reactions, and the need to explicitly incorporate accuracy concerns in perspectives on reactions to feedback. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.