Self-Evaluation Maintenance Model

Definition

The self-evaluation maintenance (SEM) model is a theoretical framework describing the process by which individuals maintain or increase their positive self-evaluation, or self-regard, in interpersonal contexts, through reflection, and through comparison.

Introduction

The self-evaluation maintenance (SEM) model is a theoretical framework describing the processes by which individuals’ self-evaluation, or self-regard, is affected by others’ performance in interpersonal contexts. The SEM model predicts that the accomplishments of the people surrounding an individual may affect that individual’s self-regard in two ways: through reflection (which boosts self-regard by association with the superior other), and through comparison (which decreases self-regard in contrast to the superior other). The relative likelihood of each of these two processes is determined by a combination of three variables: the psychological closeness of one’s comparison target, the quality of performanceof...