Increasing Implicit Self-Esteem through Classical Conditioning

Jodene R. Baccus, Mark W. Baldwin, and Dominic J. Packer
McGill University

Implicit self-esteem is the automatic, nonconscious aspect of self-esteem. This study demonstrated that implicit self-esteem can be increased using a computer game that repeatedly pairs self-relevant information with smiling faces. These findings, which are consistent with principles of classical conditioning, establish the associative and interpersonal nature of implicit self-esteem and demonstrate the potential benefit of applying basic learning principles in this domain.


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