Introduction
Self-evaluation maintenance (SEM) is a psychological theory that explains how individuals maintain and enhance their self-esteem through social comparisons with others. Developed by Abraham Tesser in 1988, SEM posits that people evaluate themselves in relation to others, particularly those who are close to them. This theory has far-reaching implications for understanding human behavior, social relationships, and self-esteem.
What is Self-evaluation maintenance theory?
Self-evaluation maintenance theory concerns discrepancies between two people in a relationship. The theory suggests that an individual will maintain and enhance their self-esteem by comparing themselves to another person. Self-evaluation refers to the self-perceived social ranking one has towards oneself, which is influenced by relationships with others. According to Tesser's theory, a person's self-evaluation may be raised when a close other performs well, but it can also be lowered through comparison with someone who performs better.
Key components of Self-evaluation maintenance theory
The SEM model assumes two main components:
- Self-evaluation maintenance: Individuals strive to maintain or increase their self-evaluation by comparing themselves to others.
- Influence of relationships: Self-evaluation is influenced by relationships with others, particularly those who are close to the individual.
Reflection and comparison processes
Tesser's theory identifies two processes through which self-evaluation is affected:
- Reflection process: When a close other performs well, an individual's self-evaluation is raised due to the reflection of their success.
- Comparison process: When a close other performs well, an individual's self-evaluation is lowered due to direct comparison with their capabilities.
Closeness and performance
The closeness of the relationship and the performance level of the other individual significantly impact self-evaluation. If the closeness is high and performance is high, self-evaluation is raised through reflection. However, if the closeness is high and performance is low, self-evaluation is not affected. Conversely, if the closeness is low and performance is high, self-evaluation is not affected.
Relevance to self-identity
The relevance of a close other's performance to an individual's self-identity determines whether reflection or comparison will occur. For example, if a sibling scores the winning goal in an important game, an individual's self-evaluation may be raised if they are aspiring to become a professional soccer player. However, if the sibling's performance is not relevant to their self-identity, self-evaluation may not be affected.
History of Self-evaluation maintenance theory
Abraham Tesser developed the self-evaluation maintenance theory in 1988. Since then, the theory has been extensively researched and applied in various fields, including psychology, sociology, and education.
Applications and implications
Self-evaluation maintenance theory has significant implications for understanding human behavior, social relationships, and self-esteem. It highlights the importance of social comparisons in shaping self-evaluation and provides insights into the factors that influence self-esteem. The theory can be applied in various contexts, such as education, sports, and business, to promote positive self-evaluation and self-esteem.
FAQ
What is the primary goal of self-evaluation maintenance theory? A self-evaluation maintenance theory aims to explain how individuals maintain and enhance their self-esteem through social comparisons with others.
How does self-evaluation maintenance theory differ from other social comparison theories? Self-evaluation maintenance theory focuses on the role of close others in shaping self-evaluation, whereas other social comparison theories may focus on broader social comparisons or comparisons with abstract ideals.
Can self-evaluation maintenance theory be applied in real-world contexts? Yes, self-evaluation maintenance theory can be applied in various contexts, such as education, sports, and business, to promote positive self-evaluation and self-esteem.
What are the key components of self-evaluation maintenance theory? The two main components of self-evaluation maintenance theory are self-evaluation maintenance and the influence of relationships on self-evaluation.
How does self-evaluation maintenance theory relate to self-identity? Self-evaluation maintenance theory suggests that the relevance of a close other's performance to an individual's self-identity determines whether reflection or comparison will occur.