Effect of relational goals on downward and upward spiral process

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25380843
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Social psychology
• Research Institution: Shinshu University
• Principal Investigator: HASEGAWA Koji 信州大学, 学術研究院人文科学系, 准教授 (20341232)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 自尊心 / 安心さがし / 関係性目標

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The prior study suggested that if people with low self-esteem (LSEs) excessively sought reassurance from their friends, they were rejected. On the contrary, those with high self-esteem (HSEs) were not rejected when they sought reassurance. Why did this difference emerge? We focused on the relational goals in order to clarify the problem. The analysis revealed that LSEs with high reassurance seeking (RS) had low approach motives that maintain their relations between their friend or partner positively, and indicated their self-centered behaviors. In contrast, HSEs with high RS had high approach motives and relation-centered behaviors. Moreover, male's compassionate goals promoted female's self-expansion and fulfillment regardless of SE and RS. These findings suggested that one of promotional factors might be compassionate goals.

Free Research Field

社会心理学