AbstractSelf‐esteem and self‐complexity of first‐term Maine legislators were assessed at the beginning of a legislative session, using Ziller's (1973) topological method. Peer ratings of the freshman members' promise and likeability, and measures of their legislative activity were collected. Legislators rated as successful by their colleagues were of two distinct self‐other types: low self‐esteem, high complexity, or high self‐esteem, low complexity. These two types were termed the Pragmatist and the Ideologue, respectively. The distinctions implied by these labels were supported by analyses of activity and voting records. High complexity of the self‐concept, interpreted here as defensiveness, seems to moderate the effects of self‐esteem on pol