Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
submittedVersion
Publication Date
12-2006
Abstract
The present study investigated whether employees are merely interested in hearing good news about themselves, as predicted by self-enhancement theory, or are more interested in feedback that confirms their self-concept, as predicted by self-verification theory. We examined in a field study whether self-view certainty serves as a moderator and strengthens the effect of congruence between individuals' self-views and the performance feedback they receive about these self-views on feedback reactions. Polynomial regression results revealed that people mainly reacted favourably to positive feedback. Prior self-views did not play a key role in explaining feedback reactions. As feedback scores were the main determinant of feedback reactions, it seems that feedback reactions are dominated by self-enhancement strivings and that self-verification strivings are less prominent. Little support was found for the moderating role of self-view certainty.
Discipline
Human Resources Management | Organizational Behavior and Theory
Research Areas
Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources
Publication
Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology
Volume
79
Issue
4
First Page
533
Last Page
551
ISSN
0963-1798
Identifier
10.1348/096317905X71462
Publisher
Wiley: 12 months
Citation
ANSEEL, Frederik and LIEVENS, Filip.
Certainty as a moderator of feedback reactions? A test of the strength of the self-verification motive. (2006). Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology. 79, (4), 533-551.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/5639
Copyright Owner and License
Authors
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1348/096317905X71462