Positively Biased Self-Perceptions: Who Has Them and What are Their Effects?
Haley F Stephens1, Rebecca J Lynch2, Janet A Kistner2
1Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Box 207900, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA. hstephens@psy.fsu.edu.
Child Psychiatry and Human Development
|July 20, 2015
Summary
Children with overly positive self-perceptions (positive bias) show higher aggression. This study found positive bias is linked to aggression but not depression in school-aged children.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Overly-positive self-perceptions of social acceptance, termed positive bias, are common in children.
- Understanding the characteristics and consequences of positive bias is crucial for child development research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine demographic and social competency factors associated with positive bias in children.
- To investigate the relationship between positive bias and aggressive and depressive symptoms.
Main Methods:
- The study included 366 children in 3rd through 5th grades.
- Data collection involved peer-rated and self-perceived social acceptance, peer-rated aggression, and self-reported depressive symptoms.
- Children with extreme negative social bias were excluded.
Main Results:
- Sex, ethnicity, and social preference were significantly associated with positive bias.
- Positive bias predicted aggressive behavior, independent of social preference.
- No significant relationship was found between positive bias and depressive symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Positive bias is linked to increased aggression in children.
- Demographic factors and social preference play a role in the development of positive bias.
- Positive bias does not appear to be a risk or protective factor for depressive symptoms.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:29Self-Serving Bias
320
Self-serving bias is a cognitive phenomenon in which individuals attribute positive outcomes to internal factors such as their abilities, intelligence, or effort while attributing negative outcomes to external circumstances. This cognitive distortion helps maintain self-esteem but can also impede objective self-assessment.Theoretical Explanations of Self-Serving BiasTwo primary theories explain the self-serving bias: the cognitive explanation and the motivational explanation.The cognitive...
320
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
5.9K
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
5.9K
01:30Unrealistic Optimism Bias
321
Unrealistic optimism bias is the tendency to overestimate the likelihood of positive outcomes. This cognitive bias makes individuals believe they are less likely to experience failures, setbacks, or risks and more likely to succeed than others. For example, people may assume they are less prone to health issues, accidents, or financial struggles than their peers, even when they share similar risk factors.One key component of this bias is the above-average effect, where individuals perceive...
321
01:17Strategies of Self-Presentation II: Self-Verification
263
Self-verification is a fundamental psychological drive wherein individuals seek affirmation of their self-concept from others, striving for consistency between their internal self-view and external perceptions. This drive operates even when the self-concept is negative, influencing interpersonal behavior and feedback preferences in complex and often counterintuitive ways. Unlike the self-enhancement motive, which seeks positive evaluations, self-verification prioritizes coherence and...
263
01:27Halo Effect
688
The halo effect is a cognitive bias in which an individual's overall impression influences judgments about their specific traits. This psychological phenomenon leads people to associate positive characteristics with those they perceive as generally good and negative characteristics with those they view as bad. This effect is particularly influential in social perception, professional evaluations, and decision-making processes.The Psychological Basis of the Halo EffectThe halo effect is rooted...
688
01:25Motivational Bias
481
Cognitive bias results from limitations in thinking and information processing, leading to systematic errors in judgment. Conversely, motivational bias stems from personal desires or emotions, causing distortions in perception to align with self-interest. Motivational bias influences how individuals perceive and attribute causes to events, often shaped by personal needs, goals, and self-esteem preservation. This bias can distort judgment, leading to inaccurate assessments of success, failure,...
481