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Related Experiment Videos

Self-enhancement by social comparison: a prospective analysis.

Miron Zuckerman1, Ryan E O'Loughlin

  • 1Department of Clinical & Social Sciences in Psychology, University of Rochester, NY 14627-0266, USA. miron@psych.rochester.edu

Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
|May 2, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Self-enhancement, perceiving oneself more positively than others, prospectively predicts better adjustment. However, higher adjustment does not predict increased self-enhancement, suggesting a one-way street for psychological well-being.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Personality Psychology

Background:

  • Self-enhancement, the tendency to view oneself more favorably than others, is a common cognitive bias.
  • The relationship between self-enhancement, self-esteem, and psychological adjustment requires further longitudinal investigation.
  • Understanding how these constructs interact under varying daily circumstances is crucial for mental health research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the prospective relationship between self-enhancement and self-reported adjustment over time.
  • To investigate whether adjustment, including self-esteem, predicts future self-enhancement.
  • To explore the daily interplay between self-esteem, perceived challenge, and daily events in relation to self-enhancement.

Main Methods:

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  • A longitudinal study design was employed.
  • Participants' self-enhancement and self-reported adjustment were assessed over time.
  • A diary methodology captured daily fluctuations in self-esteem, perceived challenge, and event valence.

    • Main Results:

    • Self-enhancement prospectively predicted increases in adjustment, even after controlling for narcissism.
    • Adjustment and self-esteem did not prospectively predict increases in self-enhancement.
    • Individuals with higher self-enhancement reported more stable self-esteem across daily challenges and positive events.

    Conclusions:

    • Self-enhancement may serve as a protective factor for psychological adjustment.
    • The findings suggest a unidirectional relationship where self-enhancement influences adjustment, not vice versa.
    • Self-enhancement appears to buffer against negative emotional reactivity to daily life stressors and positive events.