From Self enhancement values to Self-esteem: Testing the SeCeBreSe Principle

An important debate on Cultural specificity (Heine) vs. Universality of self-esteem/enhancement (Sedikides) tendencies has been inspiring for theory and research over the last two decades. The key issue in this debate is, whether self enhancement may equally characterize competence and morality domains.

Recently, Sedikides (2017) has proposed a SeCeBreSE (Self Centrality Breeds Self-enhancement) principle, according to which people self-enhance in domains which are of central importance to them. Gebauer, Sedikides, Schrade (2017) have demonstrated such effects even with religious people who are otherwise motivated to self-quieting modesty by their faith. But serious theoretical problems still remain to be solved, when we link this research domain with theories of values.

Values are the pinnacles of self-centrality, and the self-enhancement (achievement, power) vs. self-transcendence (benevolence, universalism) dimension in Schwartz`s circular value structure is of relevance here. It follows logically, that self-enhancement values should be positively related to self-esteem. But, on the other hand, these are grounded in a risk of non-achievement, leading to a shaky self-esteem. With self-transcendent values a risk of non-achievement does not occur and they may give a boost to self-esteem on moral grounds.

In our contribution, findings from an ongoing cross-cultural research project with student participants from six European countries will be presented. We will provide answers to alternative hypotheses: Are there specific paths between the two value types and self-esteem as well as with socially desirable responding?; or, Is there a universal link between any type of values and self-esteem? Our initial findings suggest that the self-transcendent values predict self-esteem.