Alleviating Interpersonal Suspicions of Low Self-Esteem Individuals: Negativity as Honesty Credentials

Individuals with low self-esteem (LSEs) suspect that their relationship partners feign positive sentiments about them and conceal negative sentiments. In two studies, the authors tested a negativity-as-honesty-credentials model, which posits that these authenticity doubts are alleviated when LSEs receive some expressions of negativity from partners. LSEs' authenticity doubts were reduced and their acceptance of their partners' praise was increased when they received frequent criticism from partners (Study 1). In addition, an experimental manipulation of relationship partners' negative feedback decreased LSEs' authenticity doubts with regard to that feedback and with regard to subsequent feedback (Study 2). However, negative feedback across multiple domains (Study 1) or in high investment domains (Studies 1 and 2) was associated with negative affective and interpersonal responses. Results suggest that receiving a modicum of negativity in worthless domains may maintain LSEs' trust in partners' honesty while avoiding negative interpersonal and affective responses. Results also replicate prior findings suggesting that authenticity doubts are associated with negative affective and interpersonal responses.