Causal priority of social desirability over self-concept: a cross-lagged correlation analysis

The study examined the causal relationship between social desirability (SD) and self-concept (SC). Two self-report instruments--Crandall's Children's Social Desirability Scale and the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale--were administered before and after a 9-month therapeutic treatment designed to enhance self-concept. Subjects were 57 upper elementary pupils in a laboratory research school. Three hypotheses were proposed: (a) There is a positive correlation between SD and SC; (b) SD is more stable across time than SC; and (c) SD is causally prior to SC. Cross-lagged panel correlation analysis supported all three hypotheses. Discussion centers on a causal explanation of the distorting effect of SD upon SC scores.