THE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL IDENTITY ON THE SELF-SET GOALS AND TASK-PERFORMANCE OF HIGH AND LOW SELF-ESTEEM INDIVIDUALS

Social identification with co-workers was examined as a moderator of t he frequently inscrutable link between worker self-esteem and goal set ting. Weak or strong social identity was created in groups comprised o f either high or low self-esteem persons. As expected, strengthening s ocial identity increased perceived similarity to ingroup members regar dless of self-esteem. Furthermore, only high self-esteem individuals w ith a strong social identity set higher goals for themselves, and achi eved better performance, compared to high esteem/weak identity individ uals or low self-esteem persons in either social identity condition. I ncrements in the goals and performance of high self-esteem individuals were associated with perceived similarity to ingroup members, and per formance was attributed to personal ability. In contrast, the goals an d performance of low self-esteem individuals were associated with cert ainty of goal achievement, and performance was attributed to perceptio ns of task difficulty. Asymmetrical effects of social identification a re discussed in relation to group member personalities. (C) 1997 Acade mic Press.