@article{ref1,
title="Secure Versus Fragile High Self‐Esteem as a Predictor of Verbal Defensiveness: Converging Findings Across Three Different Markers",
journal="Journal of personality",
year="2008",
author="Kernis, Michael H. and Lakey, Chad E. and Heppner, Whitney L.",
volume="76",
number="3",
pages="477-512",
abstract="ABSTRACT       Why is it that many individuals verbally rationalize and distort self-esteem threatening information? We examined whether such verbal defensiveness (Feldman Barrett, Williams, & Fong, 2002) differs as a function of whether individuals' high self-esteem is secure or fragile. Our findings indicated that individuals whose self-esteem was stable, not contingent, or congruent with high implicit self-esteem exhibited especially low amounts of verbal defensiveness. In contrast, verbal defensiveness was considerably higher when individuals' high self-esteem was unstable, contingent, or paired with discrepant low implicit self-esteem. Discussion centers on why the possession of well-anchored and secure high self-esteem obviates defensiveness directed toward enhancing, maintaining, or bolstering feelings of self-worth.<p />",
language="",
issn="0022-3506",
doi="10.1111/j.1467-6494.2008.00493.x",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2008.00493.x"
}