Can Smaller Steps Lead to Greater Progress?

The self-help literature avidly promotes the use of positive self-statements to boost self-esteem and mood; however, recent research provides evidence that positive self-statements may be harmful to people with low self-esteem. Prior research has only tested the effects of one type of positive self-statement (stable/global) on self-esteem and mood, but research on self-esteem maintenance processes, attitude change, and self-verification motives provides reason to believe that people with low self-esteem may benefit more from using unstable/specific positive self-statements. In order to test the effect of each type of positive self-statement on self-esteem and mood, high and low self-esteem participants were randomly assigned to one of three positive self-statement conditions (stable/global, unstable/specific, control) after experiencing a laboratory stressor. Results revealed that among high and low self-esteem participants, there was not a significant difference in mood and self-esteem as a function of their positive self-statement condition. Such results suggest that positive self-statements are not harmful to individuals; however, there may be an opportunity cost associated with using positive self-statements in the place more effective coping techniques.