Withholding negative feedback: is it about protecting the self or protecting others?

Article

Jeffries, Carla H. and Hornsey, Matthew J.. 2012. "Withholding negative feedback: is it about protecting the self or protecting others?" British Journal of Social Psychology. 51 (4), pp. 772-780. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8309.2012.02098.x
Article Title

Withholding negative feedback: is it about protecting the self or protecting others?

ERA Journal ID6159
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsJeffries, Carla H. (Author) and Hornsey, Matthew J. (Author)
Journal TitleBritish Journal of Social Psychology
Journal Citation51 (4), pp. 772-780
Number of Pages9
Year2012
Place of PublicationUnited Kingdom
ISSN0144-6665
2044-8309
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8309.2012.02098.x
Abstract

The reluctance to deliver negative feedback to someone’s face is widely documented. This research disentangles the extent to which this reluctance is motivated by a desire to protect the self as opposed to others. Participants assessed an essay written by someone with high, medium, or low self-esteem. Assessment of the essay was most positive when the feedback was to be provided face-to-face, less positive when delivered anonymously, and least positive when it was not required to be delivered at all. This effect only emerged among participants low in self-liking (but was unrelated to self competency). The self-esteem of the essay writer had no effect on evaluations. The data lend support for a self-protection motive and modest support for an other-protection motive.

Keywordsnegative feedback, self-esteem
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020520599. Social and personality psychology not elsewhere classified
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Byline AffiliationsDepartment of Psychology
University of Queensland
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
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