The interaction of social influence and observer self-image on observer task goals

Higher model performance level will result in higher observer goals on an unfamiliar task (Rakestraw and Weiss, 1981). Little is known, though, about how a model influences observer goals. The experimenter, therefore, investigated how observer self-esteem and perception of a model's competence affect their goals on an unfamiliar task when performance standards are unknown. University of Tennessee undergraduates (N,/u> = 258) were classified into a low self-esteem group (n = 71) and a high self-esteem group (n = 81) based on their California Psychological Inventory Self-acceptance subscale scores. Experimental treatment subjects watched an apparently incompetently or competently behaving model perform a card-sorting task at a relatively high level. Control subjects were oriented to the task. The groups' perceptions of the model's competence, self-competence relative to the model, model performance level attainment expectancy, performance cause attributions, and task goals were compared by analysis of variance and the variable intercorrelations examined. The results tentatively showed that a model's behavior apart from performance level can influence an observer's goals. Higher goals were associated with higher expectations for reaching the model's performance level which were associated with higher feelings of task competency relative to the model. More research may reveal that higher initial expectations for performance by new employees could come from assigning them to work with someone that they judge they can match in behavior and performance.