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The relationships between irrational beliefs, self-esteem and public and private self-consciousness in adults
Author
Lee, Janice Niann Tsyr
Supervisor
Smith, Ian David
Abstract
The present study investigated relationships between individuals' irrational beliefs and their levels of self-esteem and public and private self-consciousness. Four hypotheses were proposed. Firstly, there is a negative relationship between the number of irrational beliefs on an individual's own level of self-esteem. Secondly, there is a negative relationship between self-esteem and public and private self-consciousness. Thirdly, there is a positive relationship between irrational beliefs and public and private self-consciousness. The fourth and last hypothesis is that there are no gender differences in self esteem, irrational beliefs and public and private self-consciousness.
The measures used were; (a) the revised Self-conscious scale developed by Schiever and Carver(1985); (b) the emotional stability and general self sub-scales of the Self Description Questionnaire III developed by Marsh (1990); and (c) the Irrational Beliefs Test developed by Jones (1968). A total of 129 adults participated in the study by completing a questionnaire comprising the paper-and-pencil measures.
Reliability coefficients obtained of the measures used and the correlation coefficients found among the variables were reported. Results from a one-way analysis of variance to ascertain gender differences were also described. Analysis performed indicated support for hypotheses (1) and (4) proposed in the study. There were no gender differences, and there was a negative relationship between irrational beliefs and self-esteem. for hypothesis (2) and (3), only partial support were obtained for each. Self-esteem was found to be negatively related with public self-consciousness in this study. Private self-consciousness did not seem to be significantly related with general self-esteem in individuals. On the other hand it seemed to have a significantly negative relationship with emotional stability self-esteem. Irrational beliefs also appeared to have a significant relationship with public self consciousness. Again private self-consciousness did not seem to have a significant negative with irrational beliefs. This was similar to its relationship with general self-esteem.
Implications for personality theory were deduced from the above findings. As regards to implications for clinical practice, therapeutic interventions that address the cognitive affective and behavioral aspects of low self-esteem are suggested to be effective treatments. Replication of the study with use of other measures of dysfunctional beliefs and a larger sample size to allow more sophisticated statistical procedures such as path analysis are needed to further validate the findings in this study.
The measures used were; (a) the revised Self-conscious scale developed by Schiever and Carver(1985); (b) the emotional stability and general self sub-scales of the Self Description Questionnaire III developed by Marsh (1990); and (c) the Irrational Beliefs Test developed by Jones (1968). A total of 129 adults participated in the study by completing a questionnaire comprising the paper-and-pencil measures.
Reliability coefficients obtained of the measures used and the correlation coefficients found among the variables were reported. Results from a one-way analysis of variance to ascertain gender differences were also described. Analysis performed indicated support for hypotheses (1) and (4) proposed in the study. There were no gender differences, and there was a negative relationship between irrational beliefs and self-esteem. for hypothesis (2) and (3), only partial support were obtained for each. Self-esteem was found to be negatively related with public self-consciousness in this study. Private self-consciousness did not seem to be significantly related with general self-esteem in individuals. On the other hand it seemed to have a significantly negative relationship with emotional stability self-esteem. Irrational beliefs also appeared to have a significant relationship with public self consciousness. Again private self-consciousness did not seem to have a significant negative with irrational beliefs. This was similar to its relationship with general self-esteem.
Implications for personality theory were deduced from the above findings. As regards to implications for clinical practice, therapeutic interventions that address the cognitive affective and behavioral aspects of low self-esteem are suggested to be effective treatments. Replication of the study with use of other measures of dysfunctional beliefs and a larger sample size to allow more sophisticated statistical procedures such as path analysis are needed to further validate the findings in this study.
Date Issued
1998
Call Number
BF697.5.S43 Lee
Date Submitted
1998