Selective memory and the persistence of paradoxical self-esteem

Previous research suggests that paradoxical self-esteem (contrasting levels of self-liking and self-competence) is associated with selective memory fo r self-relevant information. The form and function of this bias was examine d here. College students classified as paradoxical or nonparadoxical viewed a series of trait adjectives. Recognition memory for the words was later t ested. Results revealed that heightened selectivity in paradoxicals was lim ited to words conveying low social worth. Those paradoxically low in self-l iking showed distinctively good memory and those paradoxically high in self -liking showed distinctively bad memory for these words. The claim that mem ory bias contributes to the persistence of paradoxical self-esteem also was tested. As expected, the self-liking of paradoxicals with the strongest me mory bias showed the least shift toward self-competence 4 months later.