Effects of Self-Esteem on Self-Face Recognition: An Eye Movement Study

In this study, effects of self-esteem on self-faces recognition toward four types of faces were evaluated by eye movements tracking within a self-face recognition paradigm. Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) was used to assess self-esteem level of participants, high (n = 16) and low (n = 16) self-esteem undergraduates participated in it. Participants completed a self-face recognition task wherein eye movements were recorded during the presentation of self-face, partner’s face, famous face and stranger face. Findings showed that high self-esteem group pay more attention to self-face, partner’ face and famous face than unfamiliar face; low self-esteem individuals, however, pay the same attention to all categories. These results not only enriched the research about the self-esteem, but also the self-face recognition.