Self-esteem operates implicitly through self-serving judgment biases that also buttress the self.

Evidence

Self-positivity biases have special significance for the present analysis because they do more than express self-esteem implicitly; they also provide support for self-esteem and are, therefore, secondorder implicit self-esteem effects. … The tendencies to accept responsibility for desired outcomes while finding external causes for undesired outcomes and, more generally, to construct judgments and revise memory in a fashion consistent with a positive self-image were identified by Greenwald (1980) as symptoms of one of a trio of cognitive biases (egocentricity, beneffectance, and cognitive conservatism) of the self. These biases, which share characteristics with the operation of a totalitarian society’s propaganda apparatus, were described as adaptive, functioning to preserve the integrity of the self as a knowledge organization. — Anthony G. Greenwald and Mahzarin R. Banaji, Implicit Social Cognition, 152

Categorization

• DEFINE: Introduces the second-order implicit self-esteem concept: biases that both express and support positive self-regard, distinguishing it from simple first-order implicit expression.
• DEEPTHINKING: The totalitarian-state metaphor for self-cognitive biases is a dense, memorable framing worth sitting with.
• XREF: connects to: Implicit self-esteem’s distinctive prediction is that effects strengthen with measured self-esteem. — Anthony G. Greenwald and Mahzarin R. Banaji, Implicit Social Cognition: Attitudes,…, 172; Prejudice can serve unconscious self-esteem needs people rationalize away — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2341; Self-esteem rises from joining the positively valued and distancing from the negatively valued. — Anthony G. Greenwald and Mahzarin R. Banaji, Implicit Social Cognition: Attitudes,…, 157 (+11 more)

Broader Connections

• Threatened self-esteem drives people to derogate stigmatized groups to feel better #exemplifies (0.86) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2376
• People self-sabotage to preserve excuses that protect self-esteem #exemplifies (0.85) — Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg, Tom Pyszczynski, The Worm at the Core, 247
• Threatened self-worth increases outgroup derogation, which then restores self-esteem #exemplifies (0.85) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1173
• Prejudice can serve unconscious self-esteem needs people rationalize away #exemplifies (0.82) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2341
• Blaming the system rather than oneself can protect self-esteem #exemplifies (0.82) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1097
• Attributing disadvantage to structural causes rather than personal character protects self-esteem. #exemplifies (0.80) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1070
• Self-esteem rises from joining the positively valued and distancing from the negatively valued. #expands (0.78) — Anthony G. Greenwald and Mahzarin R. Banaji, Implicit Social Cognition, 157
• Attributing disadvantage to systemic bias predicts positive self-esteem. #exemplifies (0.78) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1070
• Self-esteem protection may come from combined inward- and outward-directed defenses #expands (0.76) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1099
• Stigmatized individuals protect self-esteem by disengaging from feedback in negatively stereotyped domains #qualifies (0.75) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 966
• Stigmatized people cope by psychologically unlinking self-esteem from domains where prejudice operates #complicates (0.74)
• Vigilance about bias can be adaptive and self-esteem protective #exemplifies (0.74)
• Stigmatized people disengage self-worth from domains where they face bias #complicates (0.73)
• Implicit self-esteem’s distinctive prediction is that effects strengthen with measured self-esteem. #qualifies (0.72) — Anthony G. Greenwald and Mahzarin R. Banaji, Implicit Social Cognition, 172