How do worldviews shape self-views? : an examination of the causality between cynicism and self-esteem

Abstract

The negative association between cynicism, a negative view about human nature, and self-esteem, a global evaluation of the self, has been consistently documented in the literature. However, the causal mechanisms underlying this association have not yet been examined to illuminate how worldviews and self-views are linked, while previous research has presented equivocal findings regarding the causal direction. In two studies, I tested how cynical worldview influences self-esteem using multiple designs, and hence provided empirical evidence to this open question. In Study 1, a cross-lagged panel analysis revealed that cynicism significantly predicted decreased self-esteem four months later, but the reverse was not found. In Study 2, I experimentally manipulated cynicism, and found that participants primed with a cynical worldview were more likely to report lower self-esteem, compared to participants in the control condition. I also examined the mediating role of perceived connectedness with others and the society in this linkage, and the results showed that social connectedness mediated the influence of cynicism on self-esteem. This research therefore laid important groundwork for understanding the causal relations among our perceptions of the social world, interpersonal relationships, and the self.