On the Perceived Intentionality of Self-Enhancement

Two experiments examined the inferential consequences of perceived intentionality in self-enhancement (enhancing self-presentation). Participants evaluated a fictitious target who self-enhanced either intentionally or unintentionally. They perceived the target as more immoral and unintelligent, but as equally unfriendly, when the target self-enhanced intentionally (vs. unintentionally). They also perceived the target as more immoral, unintelligent, and unfriendly when the target self-enhanced (either intentionally or unintentionally) rather than self-presented accurately. Intentionality of self-enhancement elicits negative interpersonal evaluations.