People with low self-esteem judge others too categorically. Steven Graham and Margaret Clark, psychologists at Yale University (USA), asked participants in an experiment to choose from a list of definitions those that characterized their partner (“sincere”, “caring”, “envious”, “honest” … ).
People with low self-esteem judge others too categorically. Steven Graham and Margaret Clark, psychologists at Yale University (USA), asked participants in an experiment to choose from a list of definitions those that characterized their partner (“sincere”, “caring”, “envious”, “honest” … ). It was much more difficult for insecure people to make choices when negative and positive definitions alternated, and did not go in a homogeneous block (only positive or only negative). The reaction of people with adequate self-esteem did not depend on the sequence of words. “Those of us who underestimate ourselves generally tend to be black and white,” said Dr. Clarke. – It is difficult for them to realize that a partner can have both positive and negative traits. In addition, they are very worried about how relatives treat them. When everything is going well, they tend to idealize a partner, but at the first discord they focus on his negative qualities. This method of protection helps insecure people justify their distance from their partner and avoid possible pain.