Self-enhancing effect of social feedback on cognitive task performance.

The influence of feedback on the cognitive task performance of individuals with high and low self-esteem was assessed (Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory, Form A). A median split technique segregated each group (30 adults with mental retardation and 30 MA-matched controls) into high and low self-esteem individuals. All subjects performed two memory tasks (easy, difficult) but were randomly assigned to only one of three feedback conditions (social, computer, and no feedback). Findings indicated that social feedback can alter the normally positive relation between self-esteem and cognitive task performance.