Getting ready for the bad times: self-esteem and anticipatory coping

✍ Scribed by Ian R. Newby-Clark

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2004
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 83 KB
• Volume: 34
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0046-2772
• DOI: 10.1002/ejsp.199

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

When we cannot alter the characteristics of an aversive event, we are still able to prepare ourselves for what is to come. In other words, we can engage in ‘anticipatory coping.’ Known self‐esteem differences in self‐regulation led to the prediction that low self‐esteem (LSE) individuals would evidence different anticipatory coping patterns than high self‐esteem (HSE) people. HSE and LSE participants were faced with either a low or high probability of engaging in a painful task. They were told about, and given the opportunity to engage in, a preparatory strategy aimed at minimizing discomfort during the painful task. Those participants in the low probability condition prepared for the painful task less than did those participants in the high probability condition. As hypothesized, the effect of probability condition was more pronounced for HSE, compared to LSE, participants. Also, in the low probability condition, there was a trend towards LSE participants preparing more than HSE participants. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.