Self-Ideal Discrepancy and Acceptance of False Personality Interpretations

Abstract

Effects of self-ideal discrepancy and favorability of content on subjects' acceptance of personality interpretations were studied. Subjects accepted more favorable than neutral statements and more neutral than unfavorable statements. A significant effect was found for self-ideal discrepancy and for the interaction between self-ideal discrepancy and content favorability. In contrast to moderate and low discrepancy subjects, high discrepancy subjects accepted more of the interpretations, accepted more unfavorable, and rejected more favorable interpretations. High discrepancy subjects also accepted more neutral interpretations than did low discrepancy subjects. High discrepancy subjects expected to receive more negative feedback than low discrepancy subjects, and also interpreted this feedback more negatively than did low discrepancy subjects, while scores for the moderate discrepancy subjects were consistently between these two groups.

The Acceptance of Personality Evaluations: Constraints on Consistency Motivations

“…However, a study reported by Glenn and Janda (1977) examined the relationship between self-denial discrepancy and the acceptance of personality statements of varying degrees of favorability. The results of this study indicated that high self-ideal discrepancy subjects (presumably low in selfesteem) were more accepting of neutral and negatively-toned statements but less receptive to favorable feedback than moderate or low self-ideal discrepancy individuals (presumably high in self-esteem).…”