Abstract

The threat-to-self-esteem model suggests an individual's interpretation of an offer of help is influenced by factors of the aid that have implicit consequences to the helpee's self-esteem (Fisher, Nadler, & Whitcher-Alagna, 1982). Basic needs theory states that the fulfillment of autonomy and competency needs are two components necessary for an individual to achieve optimal well-being, and thus self-image (i.e., self-esteem; Ryan & Deci, 2000). As such, this study used a LEGO building task and manipulated challenges to autonomy and competency in order to determine the extent to which an individual finds an unsolicited offer of help as threatening or supportive to their self-esteem. This study also examined goal orientation and self- esteem as moderating variables of the relationship between challenge to autonomy and competency on the resulting appraisal of the unsolicited help as supportive or threatening to one's self-esteem. Participants were 168 undergraduate students at the University of Central Florida. A series of ANOVAs indicated that threat to autonomy and performance goal orientation had significant effects on threat to self-esteem. Future research directions and limitations are included.

Notes

If this is your thesis or dissertation, and want to learn how to access it or for more information about readership statistics, contact us at STARS@ucf.edu

Graduation Date

2020

Semester

Summer

Advisor

Ehrhart, Mark

Degree

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree Program

Industrial Organizational Psychology

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0008132; DP0023468

URL

https://purls.library.ucf.edu/go/DP0023468

Language

English

Release Date

August 2021

Length of Campus-only Access

1 year

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

Download

Share

COinS