Negative self-verification theory is a psychological theory that suggests that individuals seek out evidence that confirms their negative self-views. The theory was first proposed by William Swann in 1983 and has been used to explain a variety of psychological phenomena. This article will discuss the history and development of the theory, the evidence that has been used to support it, and its implications for clinical practice.
History
The concept of negative self-verification theory was first proposed by William Swann in 1983. Swann argued that people are motivated to seek out information that confirms their own negative self-views, even when this information is not necessarily true. Swann suggested that this phenomenon is related to the need to maintain a sense of identity. He argued that individuals with a low self-esteem or a negative self-image are particularly likely to seek out and focus on evidence that confirms their negative self-views.
Evidence
Since its initial proposal, research has consistently supported the existence of negative self-verification theory. In particular, studies have documented the tendency of individuals to selectively focus on information that confirms their negative self-views. For example, a study conducted by Swann and colleagues (1984) found that when participants were asked to evaluate their own performance on a task, those with a low self-esteem were more likely to focus on feedback that confirmed their negative self-views.
Other studies have shown that individuals are more likely to remember information that confirms their negative self-views than information that contradicts it. For example, a study conducted by Brown and colleagues (1994) found that participants with a low self-esteem were more likely to recall negative information about themselves than positive information.
Implications
Negative self-verification theory has important implications for clinical practice. In particular, it suggests that individuals with a negative self-image may be more likely to focus on evidence that confirms their negative self-views, even when this evidence is not necessarily true. This can lead to a cycle of negative thinking and self-doubt that can be difficult to break.
For clinicians, this suggests that it is important to help clients recognize the potential for negative self-verification. Encouraging clients to focus on evidence that contradicts their negative self-views can help to break the cycle of negative thinking and promote a more balanced self-view.
Conclusion
Negative self-verification theory suggests that individuals are motivated to seek out information that confirms their negative self-views. Research has consistently supported this phenomenon, and it has important implications for clinical practice. By helping clients recognize the potential for negative self-verification, clinicians can help to break the cycle of negative thinking and promote a more balanced self-view.
References
Brown, J. D., Novick, N. J., & Lord, S. G. (1994). Memory for self-relevant events: An analysis of self-verification processes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67(5), 812-826.
Swann, W. B. (1983). Self-verification: Bringing social reality into harmony with the self. In J. Suls & A. G. Greenwald (Eds.), Psychological perspectives on the self (Vol. 2, pp. 33-66). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Swann, W. B., Stein-Seroussi, A., & Giesler, R. B. (1984). Self-verification processes: How we sustain our self-conceptions. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 20(3), 323-339.