On the confluence of self-esteem maintenance mechanisms

A case is made for the substitutability of self-esteem regulation mechanism s such as cognitive dissonance reduction, self-affirmation, and social comp arison. For example, a threat to self via cognitive dissonance might be red uced by a favorable social comparison outcome. To explain substitution, it is suggested that self-esteem regulation mechanisms inevitably produce affe ct and that affect mediates the completion of various self-esteem regulatio n processes. Substitution can be understood in terms of the transfer of aff ect from the initial mechanism to the substitute mechanism. To be effective , this transfer must take place without awareness. Also discussed is the su bstitution of self-esteem regulation mechanisms across different self-domai ns versus within a single self-domain. Current theory suggests that substit ution might be more effective within domain; that is, it is better to bolst er the aspect of self that has been threatened. It is suggested here, howev er, that substitution across self-domain might be relatively resilient and easier to accomplish.