Research Interests

My current research concerns dispositional self-esteem—-one’s overall feelings about oneself—-and how self-esteem is perpetuated in daily life. In particular, I focus on self-esteem differences in emotion regulation and close relationships. My collaborators and I have found that people with high self-esteem are more likely than those with low self-esteem to try to improve their moods when they are sad, as well as to savor their moods when they are happy. Lows sometimes even try to dampen their happiness. Such differences in emotion regulation probably help to maintain self-esteem differences. Our current studies ask such questions as: How do partners in romantic relationships influence each other’s moods? Do lows and highs differ in how they react to their partner’s moods? After a success, why do lows return to their usual level of self-worth? How do lows and highs differ in their emotional expressiveness and self-disclosure to other people?

Selected Publications

• Wood, J. V., Anthony, D. B., & Foddis, W. F. (2006). Should people with low self-esteem strive for high self-esteem? In M. H. Kernis (Ed.), Self-esteem issues and answers: A source book of current perspectives (pp. 288-296). New York: Psychology Press.
  
• Wood, J. V., Heimpel, S. A., Newby-Clark, I., & Ross, M.  (2005).  Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory:  Self-esteem differences in the experience and anticipation of success. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 89, 764-780.
  
• Wood, J. V., Heimpel, S. A., & Michela, J. L.  (2003).  Savoring versus dampening:  Self-esteem differences in regulating positive affect.  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85, 566-580. 
  
• Heimpel, S. A., Wood, J. V., Marshall, M., & Brown, J.  (2002).  Do people with low self-esteem really want to feel better?:  Self-esteem differences in motivation to repair negative moods.  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 128 - 147.
• Wood, J. V., Michela, J. L., & Giordano, C.  (2000).  Downward comparison in everyday life:  Reconciling self-enhancement models with the mood-cognition priming model.  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79, 563-579.