Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

Program Name/Specialization

Social Psychology

Faculty/School

Faculty of Science

First Advisor

Dr. Justin Cavallo

Advisor Role

Primary Thesis Advisor

Abstract

People with lower self-esteem (LSEs) tend to underestimate their capabilities and are reluctant to provide support to close others. The literature has primarily focused on how self-esteem affects individuals as support recipients. However, less is known regarding how to improve LSEs’ reluctance and perceived capabilities as support providers. The present research examines how LSEs could be led to be more willing to provide support to a close other through enhancing their support self-efficacy. I also examined whether LSEs (vs higher self-esteem; HSEs) differ in their abilities and perceptions of the support they provide. I hypothesized that encouraging LSEs to see themselves as efficacious would heighten their willingness to provide support to close others and would no longer influence their perceptions of their support provision. Using hypothetical scenarios and false feedback designed to resemble Artificial Intelligence (Studies 1 and 2), human counsellors (Study 2) or no feedback (Studies 1 and 2) to manipulate self-efficacy, Study 1 (N = 501) found that bolstering self-efficacy led LSEs to be as willing as HSEs to provide support to a close other in the future. No differences were found in LSEs’ support abilities compared to those of HSEs. Study 2 (N = 141) found that LSEs tended to be less willing to offer support and viewed their support as lower quality, less effective, and less responsive, compared to HSEs, which persisted among those who were made to feel efficacious. Thus, Study 2 did not find an effect of experimental condition. Study 2 also did not find differences between experimental conditions (AI vs counsellor). However, insufficient power may have hindered the ability to detect meaningful effects for Study 2. The present work suggests that there may be promise in improving LSEs’ willingness to offer support to close others, allowing them to experience the benefits of social support provision.

Convocation Year

2025

Convocation Season

Fall

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