Authenticity

1
Authenticity Self-Esteem Dynamics in Healthy
Psychological FunctioningPresented by

• Brian M. Goldman, Samuel Maddox,
• Michael Terrell, Keri Williams, Emily Trexler
• Clayton State University

2
Research Questions

• 1. How Do CSU students tend to function in terms
  of their Self-Esteem, and their authenticity?
• Self-Esteem Level
• Global Contingent Self-Esteem
• Specific Contingences of Self-Worth

3
Self Esteem

• Global self esteem level
• Global contingent self esteem level
• Specific contingences of self worth

4
Global Self Esteem

• Rosenberg SE Scale (1965)
• On the whole I am satisfied with myself
• I feel like a person who has a number of good
  qualities
• 10 items, 1-5 scale
• Mean 4.14, SD 0.82

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Global Contingent Self Esteem

• Contingent Self-Esteem Scale (Kernis Paradise,
  1999)
• An important measure of my self worth is how
  competently I perform
• A big determinant of how much I like myself is
  how well I perform up to the standards that other
  people have set for me
• 15 items, 1-5 scale
• Mean 3.08, SD 0.63

6
Domain Specific Contingences of Self Worth

• Crocker, Luhtanen, Cooper, Bouvrette (2003)
• 5 items for each of 7 separate domains, (1-7
  scale)
• Physical Appearance-
• When I think I look attractive I feel good
  about myself
• Mean 4.56, SD 1.10
• Competition-
• I feel worthwhile when I perform better than
  others on a task or skill
• Mean 4.95, SD 1.21

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Domain Specific Contingences of Self Worth
(continued)

• Gods Love-
• I feel worthwhile when I have Gods love
• Mean 5.34, SD 1.57
• Virtue-
• I couldnt respect myself if I didnt live up
  to a moral code
• Mean 5.02, SD 1.09
• Family Support-
• Knowing my family members love me makes me feel
  good about myself
• Mean 5.32, SD 1.01

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Domain Specific Contingences of Self worth
(continued)

• Academic Success-
• I feel better about myself when I know I am
  doing well academically
• Mean 5.35, SD 1.01
• Others Approval-
• My self esteem depends on the opinions others
  hold of me
• Mean 3.11, SD 1.25

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Dispositional Authenticity

• Goldman Kernis (2004)
• I am able to distinguish those self aspects
  that are important to my core or true self from
  those that are unimportant
• 45 items, 1-5 scale
• Mean 3.67, SD 0.40

10
Describing Race and Gender Differences in CSU
students Psychological Functioning

• How do Black and White students differ?
• How do male and female students differ?

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Ethnic Differences Contingent Self-Esteem

• Blacks
  Whites P value
• Global Contingent SE 2.97 lt 3.24
  .01
• Specific Contingencies
• Gods Love 5.86 gt 4.67
  .01
• Others Approval 2.90 lt 3.44
  .01

Note p lt .05, p lt .01 Statistically
Significant Findings
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Summary for Ethnic Differences

• African-American students reported
• Lower Global Contingent SE
• Higher SE contingency on Gods Love
• Lower SE contingency on others approval

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Gender DifferencesContingent Self-Esteem
Authenticity

• Specific Contingencies Men Women
  P
• Academic Success 5.01 lt 5.50
  .01
• Physical Appearance 4.27 lt 4.69
  .01
• Authenticity
• Relational-
• Authenticity 3.83 lt 3.94
  .09

Note p lt .05, p lt .01 Statistically
Significant Findings p lt .10
Marginally Statistically Significant Finding

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Summary for Gender Differences

• Males reported
• Lower SE contingency on physical appearance
• Lower SE contingency on academic success

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II. The Role of Self-Esteem Dynamics
Authenticity in Life Satisfaction
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Connecting SE Dynamics Authenticity (e.g.,
Kernis, 2003 Goldman, 2006)

• SE reflects FEELINGS of self-worth
• Measures of SE Level relay the overall degree
  that people possess () or () feelings of
  self-worth, THEY DO NOT INFORM US WHY SOMEONE
  FEELS THE WAY THEY DO
• For some their overall feelings of self-worth may
  be merit based- arising naturally from lifes
  challenges, successes and failures
• For others SE Level is what results from
  continuous use of self-distorting self-esteem
  maintainence strategies (e.g., self-serving bias)
• Peoples ability to experience and express
  themselves authentically may be either helped or
  hindered by their SE.
• Suboptimal forms of SE (low SE level, high
  contingent fragile SE) may be a barrier to
  authenticity.
• Healthy SE (possessing Secure High SE) may
  promote authenticity, which in turn may promote
  healthy psychological adjustment (e.g., life
  satisfaction)

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What Does it Mean to be Authentic?

• Heidegger- What is meant by being?
• Thrown-ness
• Being-there
• Project make themselves
• Humanistic Psychology
• Growth Motives
• Actualizing Potentials
• Fully Functioning

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Conceptualizing Dispositional Authenticity

• The unimpeded operation of ones core or true
  self in ones daily enterprise
• Four Components
• Awareness
• Unbiased Processing
• Behavior
• Relational Orientation
• Authenticity Inventory (AI-3 Goldman Kernis,
  2004)
• 45-Item Individual Differences Measure
• Assesses Dispositional Levels of Authentic
  Functioning

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Conceptualizing Dispositional Authenticity
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Awareness Component

• Recognizing and understanding ones core
  self-aspects motives, feelings, self-relevant
  beliefs, etc.
• Reflects figure-ground knowledge of personality
  traits and self-aspects.
• Strengths AND weaknesses
• Positive qualities AND negative ones.

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Awareness Items

• For better or for worse I am aware of who I truly
  am
• I am not in touch with my deepest thoughts and
  feelings (reversed)

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Unbiased Processing Component

• Objectivity in processing information about ones
  positive and negative self-aspects.
• NOT denying, distorting, or ignoring
• self-relevant information.

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Unbiased Processing Items

• I am very uncomfortable objectively considering
  my limitations and shortcomings (reversed)
• I often deny the validity of any compliments that
  I receive (reversed)

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Behavior Component

• Acting in accord with ones values, needs, and
  preferences
• NOT acting merely to please others, attain
  rewards or avoid punishments.
• Natural expression of ones core feelings,
  motives, and inclinations.

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Behavior Items

• I find that my behavior typically expresses my
  needs.
• I spend a lot of energy pursuing goals that are
  very important to other people even though they
  are unimportant to me (r)

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Relational Orientation Component

• Valuing and achieving openness, sincerity, and
  truthfulness within close relationships
• Honest expression of core self with close others
  so they see who one really is- both good and
  bad.

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Relational Items

• I want close others to understand the real me
  rather than the public persona or image
• People close to me would be shocked or surprised
  if they discovered what I keep inside me
  (reversed)
• My openness and honesty in close relationships
  are extremely important to me

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Correlations Among Authenticity Subscales

• AW
  UP BE RO
• Awareness ---
  
• Unbiased Process. .47 ---
  
• Behavior .51 .44
  ---
• Relational Orient. .63 .48 .55
  ---
• Note All ps lt .01

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Internal and Test-Retest Reliability

• Alpha
  Test-retest
• Total .90
  .87
• Awareness .79 .80
• Unb Proc .64 .69
• Behavior .80
  .73
• Relational .78
  .80
• 
  approx 4 weeks

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Dispositional Authenticity Research

• Summary of Findings (see K G, 2006 Advances)
• Psychological Interpersonal Adjustment
• Well-Being
• Romantic Relationships Functioning

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Psychological Interpersonal Adjustment

• Mindfulness
• MAAS .49
• KIMS .64
• Self-Concepts
• Clarity .68
• Differentiation -.32
• Self-Esteem
• Level .68
• Contingent -.58
• (In)Stability -.43

• Stress Coping
• Psychological Stress -.30
• Coping Styles
• -Active Coping .48
• -Denial -.22
• Verbal Defensiveness -.25
• Social Role Functioning
• Satisfaction .42
• Strain -.25
• Net Positive Affect .44
• Self-Determination .24

Note p lt .05, p lt .01
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Authenticity and Well-Being (W-B)

• Subjective W-B
• Life Satisfaction .32
• Positive Affect .40
• Negative Affect -.24
• Psychological W-B (Ryff)
• Autonomy .53
  
• Environmental Mastery .40
• Personal Growth .41
• Positive Relationships .37
• Purpose/Meaning in Life .33
• Self-Acceptance .31
  (Note p lt .05, p lt .01)

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Authenticity in Life In Ones Sexuality

• "At a point in every person's life, one has to
  look deeply into the mirror of one's soul and
  decide one's unique truth in the world, not as we
  may want to see it or hope to see it, but as it
  is"

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Overview of CSU Studies

• Study 1 Global Functioning
• Examined the collaborative role among global SE
  dynamics (SE Level and Contingent SE), and
  dispositional authenticity in affecting global
  life satisfaction.
• Study 2 Domain Specific Functioning- Sexuality
• Examined the collaborative role among domain
  specific SE dynamics (Sexual Esteem and Sexuality
  Contingency of Self-Worth), and costs/barriers to
  authentic sexuality in affecting Sex Life
  Satisfaction.

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Study Hypotheses

• 1. Higher Well-Being (Satisfaction in Life and
  Sex Life Satisfaction) would generally reflect
• a. More authentic functioning
• b. Self-esteem that is both high and secure in
  nature
• 2. The SE Level x Contingent SE interaction would
  account for peoples authenticity (in general and
  in the context of their sexuality).
• 3. Global life satisfaction would be influenced
  by peoples Dispositional Authenticity and Sex
  Life Satisfaction scores even when controlling
  for SE dynamics.

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Study 1 The Global Case

• Method
• Participants
• 140 Introductory CSU Psychology Students
  (97 Female, 43 Male 88 Black, 52
  White)
• Global Measures (i.e., Typical Functioning)
• Self-Esteem Level (Rosenberg, 1965)
• Contingent Self-Esteem (Kernis Paradise, 2003)
• Dispositional Authenticity (Goldman Kernis,
  2004)
• Life Satisfaction (Diener et al., 1985)
• Control Variables (Age, Gender, Race)

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Study 1 Results Correlations Between Variables

• Variables 1 2 3 4
• 1. SE Level ------
• 2. Contingent SE -.48 ------
• 3. Authenticity .60 -.39 -----
• 4. Life Satisfaction .59 -.36 .53 -----
  

Note p lt .05, p lt .01
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Study 1 Hypothesized Overall Model Predicting
Life Satisfaction
Self-Esteem Level
Self-Esteem X Contingent
Life Satisfaction
Dispositional Authenticity
Contingent Self-Esteem
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Accounting for Peoples Dispositional
Authenticity Scores
Gender
.15
.64
Self-Esteem Level
Self-Esteem X Contingent SE
Dispositional Authenticity
-.15
Contingent Self-Esteem
-.09ns
Notes 1. R² .43 2. For all standardized
Beta (ß) values depicted p lt .05, p lt .01
40
Predicting Dispositional Authenticity from SE
Dynamics
41
Gender Differences in Authenticity
Note Predicted Values reflect having controlled
for Age, Race, SE Level, Contingent SE, SE X
Contingent SE Interaction)
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Predicting Life Satisfaction Overall Model
Results
Gender
.15
.46
.64
Self-Esteem Level
Self-Esteem X Contingent
Life Satisfaction
Dispositional Authenticity
.24
-.15
Contingent Self-Esteem
.27
Race
Notes 1. Model Pred. Authenticity R² .43
Pred. Life Sat R² .47 2. For ßs depicted p
lt .05, p lt .01
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Study 1 Conclusions

• The findings demonstrate that authenticity is
  understood in part by SE dynamics- the
  interaction between SE level and Contingent SE.
• Authenticity scores significantly accounted for
  peoples life satisfaction scores (even when
  controlling for SE dynamics and demographic
  variables).

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Study 2 The Case of Sexual Adjustment

• Method
• Participants
• 86 Introductory CSU Psychology Students
  (64 Female, 22 Male 56 Black, 30
  White)
• Measures
• Context Specific (Sexuality) Functioning
• Global Functioning
• Control Variables (Gender, Race, Relationships)
  

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Types of Variables Assessed

• Sexuality Specific Variables
• Sexual Esteem
• Contingent Sexual Esteem
• Barriers/Costs to Authentic Sexuality
• Sexual Life Satisfaction

• Global Variables
• Dispositional Authenticity
• Life Satisfaction
• Control Variables
• Gender
• Race
• Relationship Status

46
Assessing Functioning in Peoples Sexuality

• Sexual Esteem Dynamics
• Sexual Esteem
• 10-Item Sexuality Scale (Snell Papini, 1989)
• I think of myself as a very good sexual partner
• I would rate my sexual skill quite highly
• Contingent Sexual Esteem
• Developed for use in the present study
• Single-Item To what extent do your overall
  feelings of self-worth depend on how you feel
  about your sexuality

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Assessing Functioning in Peoples Sexuality
(continued)

• Costs/Barriers to Authentic Sexuality
• 9 item measure developed for this study (a
  .86),
• TO WHAT EXTENT( )when considering your
  sexuality?
• Do you think of yourself as a bad person
• Do you find it difficult to see yourself
  objectively
• Do you find the need to ignore or alter your
  view of who you are
• TO WHAT EXTENT( )
• Is being aware of your sexual identity painful?
• Has your behaving openly, in line with your
  sexual identity resulted in your feeling
  criticized or ridiculed by others?
• Does your sexuality contribute to your
  portraying yourself dishonestly to people
  youre close to?

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Study 2 Results Correlations Between Variables

• Variables 1 2 3 4 5 6
• 1. Sexual Esteem -------
• 2. Contingent Sex. -.05 -------
• 3. Costs Authentic Sex. -.41 .37 -------
• 4. Sex Life Satisfaction .62 -.17
  -.46 ------
• 5. Disp. Authenticity .41 -.03
  -.47 .52 ------
• 6. Global Life Satisfact. .32 -.26
  -.47 .49 .51 -----
• Note p lt .05, p lt .01

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Hypothesized Overall Model Predicting Global
Sex Life Satisfaction
Sexual Satisfaction
Sexual-Esteem
Sex-Esteem X Conting- Sex
Authentic Sexuality Costs
Life Satisfaction
Contingent Sexuality
Dispositional Authenticity
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FindingsPredicting Sexual Life Satisfaction
.49
-.27
Sexual Satisfaction
.46
-.31
Sexual-Esteem
Sex-Esteem X Conting- Sex
Authentic Sexuality Costs
Life Satisfaction
-.35
Contingent Sexuality
.32
-.38
Dispositional Authenticity
.35
.42

• Notes
• R² (pred. ASC) .43 R² (pred. SS .47) 2.
  For all ßs p lt .05, p lt .01
• R² (pred. DA .47) R² (pred. LS .47)

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Predicting Costs/Barriers to Authentic Sexuality
from Sexual Esteem Dynamics
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General Conclusions

• The findings provide support for the contention
  that SE dynamics and authenticity play a
  collaborative and meaningful role in peoples
  satisfaction with their life in general (studies
  1 and 2) and in specific realms of their life
  (i.e., sex life) that contribute to their general
  sense of life satisfaction (study 2).
• The findings also support the prior works and
  theory contending that the influence of SE Level
  on healthy functioning is moderated by whether it
  is fragile (highly contingent) or secure (low
  contingent) SE.
• These studies are the first to empirically
  demonstrate that the interaction between SE Level
  and Contingent SE has important implications for
  authentic functioning, and consequently peoples
  well-being.
• Study 1 demonstrated that
• (1) Dispositional authenticity levels were
  highest when SE Level was high and Contingent SE
  was low.
• (2) after controlling for SE dynamics, peoples
  authenticity scores accounted for their life
  satisfaction.
• Study 2 demonstrated that costs/barriers to an
  authentic sexuality were particularly pronounced
  when SE Level was low and Contingent SE was high.
  

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General Conclusions

• The findings supported the contention that
  restrained authenticity in particular life
  domains (ones sexuality) may have important
  implications for their adjustment within that
  domain and in general.
• Costs/barriers to authentic sexuality accounted
  for both diminished satisfaction in ones sex
  life and deficits in general amounts of
  authenticity.
• The relationship between barriers/costs to
  authentic sexuality and life satisfaction was
  mediated by sexual satisfaction and dispositional
  authenticity.
• This pattern suggests that blockages in
  authenticity within a specific aspect of a
  persons core functioning (e.g., sexuality) may
  have considerable implications for his/her
  adjustment within that specific core aspect,
  which in turn can stifle global well-being.