Self-Deception versus Self-Esteem in Buffering the Negative Effects of Failure

ISSN： 0092-6566

Source： Journal of Research in Personality, Vol.31, Iss.3, 1997-09, pp. : 385-405

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Abstract

The influence of self-deception in buffering the effects of failure on performance and emotional response was examined. Eighty participants completed measures of trait self-esteem and self-deception (self-deceptive enhancement and denial) prior to receiving failure feedback during a bogus IQ test, as well as pre- and postfailure measures of state self-esteem and affect. Results of hierarchical multiple regressions showed that with the positive effects of self-esteem controlled, greater denial predicted significantly worse postfailure problem-solving, while greater self-deceptive enhancement predicted worse problem-solving and greater hostility. These findings extend Johnson's (1995) observation that self-deception renders individuals vulnerable to unambiguous threat and suggest that contrary to recent claims for the adaptiveness of self-deception, only self-esteem buffers individuals from threat.