Promoting connection: Perspective-taking improves relationship closeness and perceived regard in participants with low implicit self-esteem

• We examined the relation between implicit self-esteem and relationship closeness.
• In the control condition, implicit self-esteem is negatively related to closeness.
• This effect was eliminated following a perspective-taking manipulation.
• Perspective-taking promotes connection among low implicit self-esteem participants.

Previous research suggests that people with low implicit self-esteem may be less connected to their close relationship partners (e.g., Peterson & DeHart, 2013; DeHart, Pelham, Fiedorowicz, Carvallo & Gabriel, 2011). The current study suggests that this effect can be reduced with a perspective-taking manipulation. Results revealed that, in the control condition, people with low implicit self-esteem were less close to their relationship partners and reported lower perceived regard. In the perspective-taking condition, people high and low in implicit self-esteem did not differ in closeness or perceived regard. This was due to a significant increase in closeness and perceived regard among low implicit self-esteem participants in the perspective-taking (vs. control) condition. These findings replicate the negative relationship between implicit self-esteem and relationship closeness, while also offering a method by which this relationship can be attenuated.