The moderating influence of defectiveness on the relationship between self-esteem (global self-esteem or sense of competence) and job performance (self- or supervisor-rated) is investigated with a sample of 160 male electrical apprentices. For apprentices who are higher in defensiveness positive relationships exist between global self-esteem and self-rated performance, and between sense of competence and self- and supervisor-rated performance. Defensiveness also makes an independent contribution to self-esteem. The implications of the findings for the measurement of self-esteem are discussed.
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