Paper Title

Esteem Threat, Self-Regulatory Breakdown, and Emotional Distress as Factors in Self-Defeating Behavior

Authors

Profile picture of Roy F. Baumeister
Roy F. Baumeister

Keywords

  • Self-Defeating Behavior
  • Esteem Threat
  • Self-Regulation Failure
  • Emotional Distress
  • Threatened Egotism
  • Self-Destruction
  • Psychological Risk
  • Escapist Responses
  • Social Perception
  • Self-Control Breakdown
  • Risk-Taking Behavior
  • Cognitive Regulation
  • Negative Self-Image
  • Behavioral Consequences
  • Emotional Vulnerability

Journal

Review of General Psychology External link

Research Impact Tools

DOI

DOI Icon 10.1037/1089-2680.1.2.145

Publication Info

Volume: 1 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 145-174

Published On

June, 1997

Downloads

CITATION
COPY LINK

Abstract

Patterns of human self-defeating or self-destructive behavior are examined in relation to several hypothesized causes. Threatened egotism appears to be a major, pervasive cause: Self-defeating responses are especially common when people feel that others may perceive them less favorably than the people desire. Self-regulation failure is also a common element in most self-defeating behavior. Emotional distress is often a precipitating factor. Several causal processes, including foolish risk taking and escapist responses, link emotional distress to self-defeat.

View more »