| The self-evaluation maintenance (SEM) model was extended to include anticipatory behaviors that will strategically obscure the link between a poor performance and evaluation. In attempting to do this, the present research also investigated the potential conflict between individuals' motivation to protect self-esteem and their motivation to maintain a close relationship and the implications of this conflict for behavior in a potentially esteem threatening performance situation. Consequently, after having already scored better or worse than a close other or a stranger on an intelligence test, participants chose music that varied in helpfulness for themselves and the other to listen to when performing a similar test, after which half of the close participants expected a comparison of scores. In addition, participants reported on their perceived anxiety, motivations, and focus of concern while making the music selections. As predicted, close comparison participants did choose more helpful music for the other than did participants paired with a stranger. Participants were more concerned for the other when the other was a relationship partner and participants did intend to help a relationship partner more than a stranger. Implications for an extended SEM model, and how the self-handicapping and other-enhancement literature contribute to provide a bridge between the literature on self-protection and the literature on interpersonal relationships are discussed. |
