This theoretical perspective was first introduced by Mark Leary and colleagues in 1995Leary, M. R., & Downs, D. L. (1995). Interpersonal functions of the self-esteem motive: The self-esteem system as a sociometer. In M. H. Kernis (Ed.), Efficacy, Agency, and Self-Esteem (pp. 123-144). New York: Plenum Press. and later expanded on by Kirkpatrick and Ellis.Kirkpatrick, L. A., & Ellis, B. J. (2001). An evolutionary-psychological approach to self-esteem: multiple domains and multiple functions. In G. J. O. Fletcher & M. S. Clark (Eds.), Blackwell handbook of social psychology: Interpersonal processes (pp. 411-436). Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishers. In Leary ’ s research, the idea of self-esteem as a sociometer is discussed in depth. This theory was created as a response to psychological phenomenon i.e. social emotions, inter- and intra- personal behaviors, self-serving biases, and reactions to rejection. Based on this theory, self-esteem is a measure of effectiveness in social relations and interactions that monitors acceptance and/or rejection from others. With this, an emphasis is placed on relational value, which is the degree to which a person regards his or her relationship with another, and how it affects day-to-day life. Confirmed by various studies and research, if a person is deemed having relational value, they are more likely to have higher self-esteem. Cameron and Stinson further review the Sociometer Theory definition, highlighting two key constructs of the concept: Types of Self-Esteem Relating to Sociometer Theory Evidence Supporting Sociometer Theory Support for Sociometer Theory has come from an international, cross sequential study conducted in the Netherlands, assessing self-esteem in 1599 seven and eight year olds. The study examined firstly how self-esteem would develop in childhood, and secondly whether self-esteem develops alongside changing peer and family relationships. Inter-individual differences and intra-individual changes in social support over time were assessed. Mean-level self-esteem was found to remain stable in middle childhood and elicited no alterations. Additionally, both within and between person level assessments elicited positive reports of self esteem, showing a more robust social network from self-report measures that participants completed after these assessments. Self-esteem is responsive to social acceptance and rejection: State self-esteem (self-esteem in the immediate situation) is heavily responsive to both social acceptance and rejection. It is known that that acceptance causes increases in state self-esteem and rejection elicits negative views in self-esteem to occur. In a laboratory setting, these alterations are due to future projections of social rejection/acceptance or remembering past experiences in which social rejection/acceptance occurred which can allow an individuals self-esteem to subjectively deviate from normal levels. Global self-esteem is associated with perceptions of social worth: Social worth is a concept that can be utilised as a sociometer to measure self-esteem. Furthermore, this association is thought to exist because global self-esteem influences self-views in a top-down manner. In this top-down process, the traits that are normally associated with the sense of belongingness in social situations act to mediate self-esteem. Additionally, if this top-down manner of global self-esteem influences self-views, then an individuals perceptions of their belongingness and social worth should be positively correlated with global self-esteem. Self-esteem regulates responses to acceptance and rejection: Sociometer theory emphasises that a negative alteration in self-esteem should disrupt the self-esteem system balance, alarming the sociometer to distinguish these discrepancies, allowing for behaviour that restores this balance by restoring belongingness and an individuals self-worth in social situations. See Also Deep social mind Evolutionary psychology and culture Primate empathy Simulation theory of empathy Assertiveness Body image Clinical depression Fear of negative evaluation Identity Inner critic Invisible support List of confidence tricks Optimism bias Outline of self Overconfidence effect Passiveness Performance anxiety Self-affirmation Self-awareness Self-confidence Self-compassion Self-enhancement Self-esteem functions Self-esteem instability Self-evaluation maintenance theory Self image Shyness Social anxiety Social phobia%DIFDELCMD < %DIFDELCMD < %%% References External links Sociometer theory (at PsychWiki)%DIFDELCMD < %DIFDELCMD < %%% Category:Self Category:Interpersonal relationships Category:Evolutionary psycholog
This theoretical perspective was first introduced by Mark Leary and colleagues in 1995Leary, M. R., & Downs, D. L. (1995). Interpersonal functions of the self-esteem motive: The self-esteem system as a sociometer. In M. H. Kernis (Ed.), Efficacy, Agency, and Self-Esteem (pp. 123-144). New York: Plenum Press. and later expanded on by Kirkpatrick and Ellis.Kirkpatrick, L. A., & Ellis, B. J. (2001). An evolutionary-psychological approach to self-esteem: multiple domains and multiple functions. In G. J. O. Fletcher & M. S. Clark (Eds.), Blackwell handbook of social psychology: Interpersonal processes (pp. 411-436). Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishers. In Leary ' s research, the idea of self-esteem as a sociometer is discussed in depth. This theory was created as a response to psychological phenomenon i.e. social emotions, inter- and intra- personal behaviors, self-serving biases, and reactions to rejection. Based on this theory, self-esteem is a measure of effectiveness in social relations and interactions that monitors acceptance and/or rejection from others. With this, an emphasis is placed on relational value, which is the degree to which a person regards his or her relationship with another, and how it affects day-to-day life. Confirmed by various studies and research, if a person is deemed having relational value, they are more likely to have higher self-esteem. Cameron and Stinson further review the sociometer theory definition, highlighting two key constructs of the concept: Types of self-esteem relating to sociometer theory Evidence in support Support for Sociometer Theory has come from an international, cross sequential study conducted in the Netherlands, assessing self-esteem in 1599 seven and eight year olds. The study examined firstly how self-esteem would develop in childhood, and secondly whether self-esteem develops alongside changing peer and family relationships. Inter-individual differences and intra-individual changes in social support over time were assessed. Mean-level self-esteem was found to remain stable in middle childhood and elicited no alterations. Additionally, both within and between person level assessments elicited positive reports of self esteem, showing a more robust social network from self-report measures that participants completed after these assessments. Self-esteem is responsive to social acceptance and rejection: State self-esteem (self-esteem in the immediate situation) is heavily responsive to both social acceptance and rejection. It is known that that acceptance causes increases in state self-esteem and rejection elicits negative views in self-esteem to occur. In a laboratory setting, these alterations are due to future projections of social rejection/acceptance or remembering past experiences in which social rejection/acceptance occurred which can allow an individuals self-esteem to subjectively deviate from normal levels. Global self-esteem is associated with perceptions of social worth: Social worth is a concept that can be utilised as a sociometer to measure self-esteem. Furthermore, this association is thought to exist because global self-esteem influences self-views in a top-down manner. In this top-down process, the traits that are normally associated with the sense of belongingness in social situations act to mediate self-esteem. Additionally, if this top-down manner of global self-esteem influences self-views, then an individuals perceptions of their belongingness and social worth should be positively correlated with global self-esteem. Self-esteem regulates responses to acceptance and rejection: Sociometer theory emphasises that a negative alteration in self-esteem should disrupt the self-esteem system balance, alarming the sociometer to distinguish these discrepancies, allowing for behaviour that restores this balance by restoring belongingness and an individuals self-worth in social situations. %DIFDELCMD < %DIFDELCMD < %%% %DIFDELCMD < %DIFDELCMD < %%% 
R
’
'
R
Sociometer Theory
sociometer theory
R
Self-Esteem Relating to Sociometer Theory
self-esteem relating to sociometer theory
R
Supporting Sociometer Theory
in support
D
See Also
D
Deep social mind Evolutionary psychology and culture Primate empathy Simulation theory of empathy Assertiveness Body image Clinical depression Fear of negative evaluation Identity Inner critic Invisible support List of confidence tricks Optimism bias Outline of self Overconfidence effect Passiveness Performance anxiety Self-affirmation Self-awareness Self-confidence Self-compassion Self-enhancement Self-esteem functions Self-esteem instability Self-evaluation maintenance theory Self image Shyness Social anxiety Social phobia
D
References
D
External links Sociometer theory (at PsychWiki)
D
Category:Self Category:Interpersonal relationships Category:Evolutionary psycholog