Contingent Self-Worth

Contingent Self-Worth

Reviewed by Faisal Zaidi

A sense of worth that rises and falls with the next result.

What it is

Kamins and Dweck concluded from two studies that person-focused feedback, even when positive, can create this dependence in children, which they linked to weaker responses to later setbacks.

In effect

The article on praising effort and praising talent uses it as the thread connecting praise after a win to the response after a setback.

What it does not say

The conclusion comes from two role-play studies of children, and the link to later setbacks is the authors' reading of them. It does not say that praise of a person always weakens a child's response to setbacks.

Sources

  1. Kamins, M. L., & Dweck, C. S. (1999). Person versus process praise and criticism: Implications for contingent self-worth and coping. Developmental Psychology, 35(3), 835-847.