Self-esteem is partially formed through social evaluations. After receiving approval from others, we feel better about ourselves. Attachment styles, the ways individuals relate to other people,...Show moreSelf-esteem is partially formed through social evaluations. After receiving approval from others, we feel better about ourselves. Attachment styles, the ways individuals relate to other people, influence both views of the self and how feedback from others is perceived. To understand how attachment styles impact on self-esteem responses to social feedback, the present study explored how approval and disapproval feedback affect self-esteem levels in young adults with different attachment styles. A sample (n = 48, 37 women, M age = 21.5) consisting of young adults performed a social evaluation task in which they predicted whether others would like them based on some information about their general tendency to like other people. Subsequently, participants received feedback about whether these people like them or not and then reported on their self-esteem repeatedly. Consistent with prior research, disapproval feedback lowered self-esteem, especially when it was unexpected. These self-esteem responses were not modulated by attachment styles. Securely attached individuals reported higher self-esteem and expected to be liked more often. Fearful-avoidant individuals reported lower self-esteem and less predictions to be liked. Anxious-preoccupied individuals reported less predictions to be liked. Together, these results show that attachment styles impact views of the self and others, but do not modulate self-esteem fluctuations in response to social feedback from strangers. The findings can be further implemented to understand how attachment styles impact self-esteem and how the nature of social feedback influences attachment system activation and self-esteem responses.Show less
