Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification03:00

Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification

5.6K
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...
5.6K
Strategies of Self-Presentation II: Self-Verification01:17

Strategies of Self-Presentation II: Self-Verification

110
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...
110
The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison02:57

The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison

55.2K
According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...
55.2K
Self-Discrepancy Theory02:45

Self-Discrepancy Theory

18.7K
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.  
18.7K
Protecting Self-Esteem01:27

Protecting Self-Esteem

122
Self-esteem, a central component of psychological well-being, is actively maintained through various cognitive and behavioral strategies. Individuals employ specific mechanisms to preserve a positive self-concept and mitigate threats to their self-worth, particularly in contexts involving social evaluation or personal feedback. Four primary techniques are commonly used to sustain self-esteem.Manipulating AppraisalsOne prominent strategy involves manipulating appraisals from others. Individuals...
122
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI01:30

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI

161
Adopting a healthier lifestyle often requires overcoming significant challenges, but leveraging psychological, social, and cultural resources can facilitate meaningful change. Effective self-change hinges on understanding and applying key tools such as motivation and goal setting, which help sustain efforts toward long-term health benefits.
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...
161

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Being present: Witnessing landmark historical events boosts meaning in life.

Journal of personality and social psychology·2025
Same author

Narcissism Is Associated With Blunted Error-Related Brain Activity.

Journal of personality·2025
Same author

Combatting Stigma Toward Individuals With Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders: The Role of Nostalgia.

International journal of older people nursing·2025
Same author

Narcissism in Action: Perceptions, Team Dynamics, and Performance in Naturalistic Escape Room Settings.

Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)·2025
Same author

A meta-analytic review and conceptual model of the antecedents and outcomes of goal adjustment in response to striving difficulties.

Nature human behaviour·2025
Same author

Diverging Paths to the Self: The Distinct Psychological Roles of Nostalgia and Declinism in Personal Growth.

Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)·2025
Same journal

Visual liking as sensory valuation.

Current opinion in psychology·2026
Same journal

Visual preferences across species: A comparative framework.

Current opinion in psychology·2026
Same journal

Collective memory and historical thinking in times of uncertainty.

Current opinion in psychology·2026
Same journal

Does behavioral parent training benefit from cultural adaptations? A critical analysis.

Current opinion in psychology·2026
Same journal

Politics in psychiatry and psychotherapis in Japan with personal reflection; Is cognitive behavior therapy non-political?

Current opinion in psychology·2026
Same journal

Antisemitism in professional clinical psychology training.

Current opinion in psychology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 9, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring Dynamic Neural Changes Associated with Religious Chanting
05:05

Author Spotlight: Exploring Dynamic Neural Changes Associated with Religious Chanting

Published on: May 31, 2024

1.4K

Do religious people self-enhance?

Constantine Sedikides1, Jochen E Gebauer2

  • 1Center for Research on Self and Identity, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1SW, United Kingdom.

Current Opinion in Psychology
|September 6, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Religious individuals demonstrate self-enhancement, particularly in domains central to their faith and in cultures valuing religion. Christians may exhibit general self-enhancement due to their perceived relationship with God.

More Related Videos

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
06:42

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Published on: September 28, 2018

12.0K
Modulation of the Neurophysiological Response to Fearful and Stressful Stimuli Through Repetitive Religious Chanting
11:12

Modulation of the Neurophysiological Response to Fearful and Stressful Stimuli Through Repetitive Religious Chanting

Published on: November 4, 2021

3.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 9, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring Dynamic Neural Changes Associated with Religious Chanting
05:05

Author Spotlight: Exploring Dynamic Neural Changes Associated with Religious Chanting

Published on: May 31, 2024

1.4K
Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
06:42

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Published on: September 28, 2018

12.0K
Modulation of the Neurophysiological Response to Fearful and Stressful Stimuli Through Repetitive Religious Chanting
11:12

Modulation of the Neurophysiological Response to Fearful and Stressful Stimuli Through Repetitive Religious Chanting

Published on: November 4, 2021

3.8K

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Sociology of Religion
  • Social Psychology

Background:

  • Self-enhancement, the tendency to view oneself favorably, is a common human motivation.
  • Previous research has explored self-enhancement across various demographics, but less is known about its specific manifestation in religious individuals.
  • Understanding when and why religious individuals self-enhance can illuminate the interplay between faith, culture, and self-perception.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether religious individuals exhibit greater self-enhancement compared to non-believers.
  • To identify the specific domains and conditions under which religious self-enhancement occurs.
  • To explore potential cultural and theological factors influencing self-enhancement in religious populations.

Main Methods:

  • Examined the Better-Than-Average Effect by comparing self-ratings on religious versus control attributes.
  • Assessed the Overclaiming Effect by measuring knowledge claims in religious versus control domains.
  • Investigated the moderating role of cultural religiosity (religious vs. secular cultures).

Main Results:

  • Religious individuals showed enhanced self-perception on traits central to their religious identity (e.g., 'loving,' 'forgiving') compared to control attributes.
  • Participants exhibited overclaiming of knowledge in religiosity-relevant domains (e.g., humanitarian aid) more than in control domains.
  • Self-enhancement was more pronounced in individuals from religious cultures compared to those from secular cultures.
  • A potential general self-enhancement tendency was observed in Christians, possibly linked to beliefs about a special relationship with God.

Conclusions:

  • Religious individuals engage in self-enhancement, particularly on religiously salient attributes and knowledge domains.
  • Cultural context significantly influences the degree of religious self-enhancement.
  • Findings suggest that religious beliefs and cultural values shape self-evaluative processes.