To belong or to self-enhance? Motivational bases for choosing interaction partners

The present research investigated motives for choosing interaction partners in people with varying levels of self-esteem. The authors predicted that h igh self-esteem individuals would choose to interact with someone who provi ded positive feedback about their personalities, regardless of his or her i nterest informing a relationship, whereas those with low self-esteem would choose to interact with someone who expressed interest informing a relation ship, regardless of his or her assessment of their personalities. In four s tudies, participants were asked to choose between two interaction partners who provided feedback that included different combinations of acceptance an d positivity. Results supported the authors' prediction. Discussion address ed the hierarchical nature of social motivation and the seemingly paradoxic al interaction preferences of low self-esteem individuals.