SELF-ESTEEM STABILITY - THE IMPORTANCE OF BASIC SELF-ESTEEM AND COMPETENCE STRIVINGS FOR THE STABILITY OF GLOBAL SELF-ESTEEM

The stability of self-esteem has been increasingly emphasized as cruci al for understanding the role and the functioning of self-esteem. The present study compares two conceptualizations of self-esteem, Global s elf-esteem and Basic self-esteem, as to stability over time. Moreover, the importance of competence strivings in ol der to gain self-esteem is considered. Eighty psychology students completed the scales, which also comprised a measure of current relevant events, six times during a 9 month period. It was shown that Global self-esteem was more unstab le than Basic self-esteem and that a high need of competence and appro val by others in acquiring self-esteem increased the instability, part icularly when these strivings were combined with a low sense of Basic self-esteem and negative events. Moreover, the events had a greater im pact on Global self-esteem than on Basic self-esteem. The mole tempora ry nature of Global self-esteem and its greater sensitivity to self-pr esentational influences and response biases are discussed. (C) 1998 Jo hn Wiley & Sons, Ltd.