Low implicit self-esteem linked to faster detection of anger and disgust

New research published in ‘Personality and Individual Differences’ suggests that individuals with low implicit self-esteem are more sensitive to subtle facial cues of anger and disgust. Unlike explicit self-esteem, which involves conscious feelings of self-worth, implicit self-esteem refers to automatic, unconscious evaluations of the self.

The study, led by Patrycja Korzeniowska at the University of Lincoln, found that people with low implicit self-worth—or those with a significant discrepancy between their conscious and unconscious self-esteem—detect emerging expressions of negative emotions earlier than others. This heightened sensitivity to potential social rejection is linked to diminished interpersonal wellbeing.

The findings indicate that the ability to read social signals is driven more by these automatic, unconscious associations than by a person’s stated, conscious self-image.