Psychiatry Investig.  2019 Mar;16(3):185-192. 10.30773/pi.2018.12.24.

Discrepancies of Implicit and Explicit Self-Esteem as Predictors of Attributional Bias and Paranoia

• Park YJ
• Park JY
• Chung KM
• Song YM
• Jhung K

• KMID: 2447257
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2018.12.24

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The current study aimed to examine the association of implicit self-esteem, explicit self-esteem and their interaction with paranoia and attributional bias. The relationship of the size and the direction of the discrepancy between implicit and explicit self-esteem with paranoia and attributional bias was examined.
METHODS
A total of 128 female college students participated. We administered the Implicit Association Test to assess implicit self-esteem, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale to measure explicit self-esteem. Paranoia Scale was used, and the attributional bias was assessed using the Ambiguous Intentions Hostility Questionnaire.
RESULTS
Results showed that explicit but not implicit self-esteem was negatively associated with paranoia, blame bias and hostility perception bias in ambiguous situations. The interaction of implicit and explicit self-esteem was associated with hostility perception in ambiguous situations. As for the discrepancy, the size of the discrepancy between implicit and explicit self-esteem was positively associated with hostility perception in ambiguous situations. Moreover, the direction of the discrepancy was specifically relevant: damaged self-esteem (high implicit and low explicit self-esteem) was associated with increased levels of paranoia, blame bias and hostility perception in ambiguous situations.
CONCLUSION
These findings provide new insights into the role of the implicit and explicit self-esteem in attributional bias and paranoia and point to damaged self-esteem as a possible vulnerability marker for illogical attribution of blaming others and perceiving hostility in social situations.

Keyword

Implicit self-esteem; Explicit self-esteem; Self-esteem discrepancy; Attributional bias; Paranoia

MeSH Terms

Bias (Epidemiology)*
Female
Hostility
Humans
Intention
Paranoid Disorders*