When do individuals help close others improve? The role of information diagnosticity
When do individuals help close others improve? The role of information diagnosticity
On the basis of the self-evaluation maintenance model (SEM; Tesser, 1988), it was hypothesized that individuals give less improving information to relationally close (rather than distant) others, out of concern for being outperformed by close others in the future. Further, this effect only occurs if diagnostic and valid criteria for success are present. Three studies confirmed the hypotheses. In Studies 1 and 2, participants gave less improving information to familiar than to unfamiliar others in a domain (academics) in which diagnostic assessment criteria (grades) were available. This pattern was not found in a domain (social life) without diagnostic criteria. These results were replicated in Study 3, in which relative performance and diagnosticity of assessment criteria were manipulated and amount of improving information given to friends and strangers was measured. Diagnosticity of comparison information is an important addition to the SEM model.
234-246
Pemberton, Michael
8fdc729a-d1b8-442f-a213-219159ab119e
Sedikides, Constantine
9d45e66d-75bb-44de-87d7-21fd553812c2
2001
Pemberton, Michael
8fdc729a-d1b8-442f-a213-219159ab119e
Sedikides, Constantine
9d45e66d-75bb-44de-87d7-21fd553812c2
Pemberton, Michael and Sedikides, Constantine
(2001)
When do individuals help close others improve? The role of information diagnosticity.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81 (2), .
Abstract
On the basis of the self-evaluation maintenance model (SEM; Tesser, 1988), it was hypothesized that individuals give less improving information to relationally close (rather than distant) others, out of concern for being outperformed by close others in the future. Further, this effect only occurs if diagnostic and valid criteria for success are present. Three studies confirmed the hypotheses. In Studies 1 and 2, participants gave less improving information to familiar than to unfamiliar others in a domain (academics) in which diagnostic assessment criteria (grades) were available. This pattern was not found in a domain (social life) without diagnostic criteria. These results were replicated in Study 3, in which relative performance and diagnosticity of assessment criteria were manipulated and amount of improving information given to friends and strangers was measured. Diagnosticity of comparison information is an important addition to the SEM model.
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Published date: 2001
Additional Information:
Interpersonal Relations and Group Processes
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Local EPrints ID: 40284
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/40284
ISSN: 0022-3514
PURE UUID: fd647867-6f81-4974-a91a-b6752f03903d
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Date deposited: 03 Jul 2006
Last modified: 09 Jan 2022 03:01
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Author:
Michael Pemberton
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