Abstract
Although the enhancement of a client's level of self-esteem is a frequent goal in psychotherapy, this task is typically approached in an indirect and relatively inefficient manner. A recent investigation, however, suggests that methods of attitude change can be adapted as more direct means of raising levels of esteem. The present study was intended to replicate and extend that initial effort. 144 college students were exposed to a taped counter-attitudinal message under one of eight experimental conditions. These conditions represented various combinations of high or low levels of communicator's attractiveness and expertise and subject ego-involvement. Results supported the earlier findings that levels of esteem could be raised by exposing subjects to appropriate messages under conditions of high credibility.