Contrasting self-esteem theory and consistency theory in predicting interpersonal attraction.

Jones (1973) has posited that self-esteem theory will be supported in those situations in which a subject is the target of evaluative action and that consistency theory will hold in those contexts in which a subject observes others interacting but is not evaluated directly by them. This conjecture was tested in the following manner: high and low levels of adequacy of performance, reward, and direct involvement with performance-reward contingencies were manipulated in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design. Dependent variables were the likeability, evaluation, potency, and activity ratings that experimental subjects attributed to the experimenter's "stooge" (the subject who was responsible for distributing rewards). Self-esteem theory alone accounted adequately for the data.