No description available.

No description available.

Il lavoro di tesi si focalizza su due meccanismi di self-enhancement, le positive illusions e il self-serving bias, e li analizza nel contesto della relazione di coppia, con particolare attenzione all’influenza che una strategia di parenting disfunzionale come l’intrusive parenting esercita su di essi. La tesi si articola in tre studi: il primo ed il secondo studio, adottando un approccio quantitativo, si focalizzano sul costrutto delle positive illusions, mentre il terzo, attraverso un disegno sperimentale, sul costrutto del self-serving bias. / Self-enhancement is a self-motive which pushes individuals to increase positive self-views and to protect their self-concept from negative information. Two mechanisms associated with the self-enhancement motive, positive illusions and the self-serving bias, will be analyzed in the context of couple relationship. Positive illusions deal with the tendency to perceive one’s relationship favorably when compared to the couple relationship of the average other. The self-serving bias relates to the tendency to make internal responsibility attributions for positive events but to make external responsibility attributions for negative events; however, when individuals collaborate with a close partner on an interdependent-outcome task, they refrain from self-serving attributions or even manifest the other-serving bias. These mechanisms serve the purpose of maintaining and protecting a relationship that is central in one’s couple identity. The present work will also focus on the influence that an insidious parental behavior like intrusive parenting exerts on these two biases pro-relationship and, consequently, on couple identity. Study 1 and 2 are dedicated to the examination of couple positive illusions in couples in transition to marriage whereas study 3 investigates the self-serving bias in dating partners.

<p>Dinamika reagovanja na evaluaciju ličnosti rezultat je uticaja potrebe da se održi pozitivna slika o sebi &ndash; tj. motiva samopoboljšanja, i potrebe da se održi postojeća slika o sebi &ndash; tj. motiva samopotvrđivanja. Savremena istraživanja pokazuju da, pored nivoa eksplicitnog samopoštovanja, i kvalitativne razlike u samopoštovanju &ndash; razlike u nivou implicitnog i uslovnog samopoštovanja, utiču intenzitet i način ispoljavanja ovih motiva. Cilj ovog istraživanja je bio da se utvrdi da li implicitno i uslovno samopoštovanje dovode do razlika u samopoboljšavajućem i samopotvrđujućem reagovanju kod osoba sa niskim i sa visokim samopoštovanjem, kao i da li neki drugi faktori utiču na ispoljavanje ovih motiva.<br />Na uzorku od 341 studenta psihologije sproveden je eksperiment u kom je testiran uticaj povratne informacije o postignuću na testovima sposobnosti na način afektivnog i kognitivnog reagovanja na to postignuće. Polovina ispitanika je bila uverena da se informacija o postignuću odnosi na sposobnosti koje su važne u svakodnevnom životu, a druga polovina je bila uverena da su testirane sposobnosti irelevantne.<br />Među osobama kongruentnog i inkongruentnog niskog samopoštovanja dobijene su značajne razlike u samopoboljšavajućoj i samopotvrđujućoj motivaciji. Pokazalo se da osobe sa inkongruentnim niskim samopoštovanjem na adaptivniji način uspevaju da zavodolje potrebe za samopoboljšanjem i samopotvrđivanjem, nego osobe sa kongruentnim niskim samopoštovanjem. Osobe sa kongruentnim i inkongruentnim visokim samopoštovanjem uglavnom se ne razlikuju u načinu reagovanja na (ne)uspeh, mada neki rezultati sugerišu da osobe sa inkongruentnim visokim samopoštovanjem imaju intenzivniju potrebu za samopoboljšanjem. Uslovno samopoštovanje uglavnom u interakciji sa eksplicitnim samopoštovanjem nije imalo velikog uticaja na reakcije na evaluaciju, ali jeste samostalno. Poređenje rezultata dobijenih pomoću implicitnog samopoštovanja i uslovnog samopoštovanja sugeriše da se radi o potpuno različitim aspektima kvaliteta samopoštovanja, koji na različit način utiču na dinamiku samopoboljšanja i samopotvrđivanja.</p> / <p>Individuals&rsquo; reactions to evaluation of their personality are the result of the need to maintain positive self-image &ndash; i.e. self-enhancement motive, and the need to confirm the existing self-image &ndash; i.e. self-verification motive. Contemporary research showed that, aside from explicit self-esteem, the expression of these motives is influenced by qualitative differences in self-esteem &ndash; i.e. the levels of implicit and contingent self-esteem. The aim of this research was to determine whether implicit and contingent self-esteem lead to different self-enhancing and self-verifying reactions among individuals with high and low explicit self-esteem, as well as to examine some other factors that might influence these motives.<br />Three hundred and forty one students took part in the experimental study in which they received bogus feedback on two ability tests. The feedback was either positive, negative or no feedback was provided. Half of the participants from all three groups were made to believe that the tests are measuring very important abilities, whereas others were made to believe that the tests are measuring mostly irrelevant abilities. Participants&rsquo; affective (depressiveness, anxiety, and anger) and cognitive reactions (internal and external attributions, perceived change between ideal and actual self-concept) were measured following feedback on the tests.<br />Significant differences in reactions to evaluative feedback were found between individuals with congruent and incongruent low self-esteem. Individuals with incongruent low self-esteem use more adaptive ways to satisfy needs for self-enhancement and self-verification than individuals with congruent low self-esteem. No differences in reactions to success and failure were found between individuals with congruent and incongruent high self-esteem, although some results suggest that persons with incongruent high self-esteem have more intensive need for self-enhancement. Interaction of contingent and explicit self-esteem did not influence reactions to evaluation to a large extent, but contingent self-esteem alone did. The comparison of results obtained with implicit and contingent self-esteem suggests that these are completely different and independent aspects of quality of self-esteem and that they influence the dynamics of self-enhancement and self-verification in a different manner.</p>

Self-enhancement is a process by which individuals misperceive themselves by viewing themselves in a positively biased manner. Past research indicates that self-enhancement can have both positive and negative effects on romantic relationships. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the role of self-enhancement in unmarried dating couples (N = 124 couples; 248 individuals) with respect to conflict, dyadic adjustment, causal and responsibility attributions, and possible moderators between self-enhancement and dyadic adjustment. The results are organized in four sections. First, I found a curvilinear relationship between participant self-enhancement and conflict. At very low and very high levels of self-enhancement there were increased levels of conflict. Second, participant self-enhancement was positively associated with positively associated with increased participant dyadic adjustment, but there was no relationship between participant self-enhancement and partner dyadic adjustment. Third, there was no relationship between participant self-enhancement and causal and responsibility attributions. Fourth, forgiveness and commitment did not moderate the relationship between self-enhancement and dyadic adjustment; however, there were main effects for both forgiveness and commitment - both forgiveness and commitment were positively associated with dyadic adjustment. I conclude by discussing limitations, areas of future research, and implications for counseling.

Social comparison influences well-being, especially during psychological threat. Social comparison outcomes have been theorized to depend on motivation, frequency, contrast versus identification, with a better- versus worse-off other. To reduce this complexity in the theory, 94 senior-housing residents were interviewed and cluster analysis was conducted. Four clusters emerged. Half the interviewees formed a cluster using only adaptive social comparison methods. Adaptives were contrasted with a cluster of indiscriminate comparers, a cluster striving for improvement, and a cluster of participants disagreeing with most questions. Clusters differed especially in patterns of downward identification, upward and downward contrast. Self-evaluation and uncertainty-reduction also differed between clusters; self-enhancement and self-improvement motivations did not. Cluster membership had no direct effect on well-being, but moderation analysis demonstrated threat-buffering of high neuroticism in the adaptive cluster. The benefits were not due to self-esteem or educational level. By separating individuals rather than behaviors, cluster analysis provides a fresh perspective.

Social comparison influences well-being, especially during psychological threat. Social comparison outcomes have been theorized to depend on motivation, frequency, contrast versus identification, with a better- versus worse-off other. To reduce this complexity in the theory, 94 senior-housing residents were interviewed and cluster analysis was conducted. Four clusters emerged. Half the interviewees formed a cluster using only adaptive social comparison methods. Adaptives were contrasted with a cluster of indiscriminate comparers, a cluster striving for improvement, and a cluster of participants disagreeing with most questions. Clusters differed especially in patterns of downward identification, upward and downward contrast. Self-evaluation and uncertainty-reduction also differed between clusters; self-enhancement and self-improvement motivations did not. Cluster membership had no direct effect on well-being, but moderation analysis demonstrated threat-buffering of high neuroticism in the adaptive cluster. The benefits were not due to self-esteem or educational level. By separating individuals rather than behaviors, cluster analysis provides a fresh perspective.

本研究旨在探討利己及利他價值觀如何影響大眾環境風險認知及政策支持，並進一步探討其影響是否受到風險規模、文化取向、及國家發展程度之影響。資料來源為世界價值觀調查(World Value Survey)第五波資料，以Schwartz的「人類價值觀理論」為理論基礎，測量個人利己及利他價值觀，並依風險規模將環境風險認知分為全球性及地區性。統計方法使用層級迴歸，同時檢驗國家層級變項(文化取向及發展程度)對個人層級變項之跨層級調節效果。研究結果顯示大眾對環境風險的感知及反應，受到其價值觀的影響，但針對不同規模的風險議題，在不同文化取向及發展程度的國家，其影響有顯著不同。 / Environmental issues have received much public and media attention abroad and at home. With the increased environmental awareness, there is a strong call for relevant policies and regulations aimed at sustainable development. To ensure sufficient public support, it is crucial to develop a fuller understanding of factors and processes underlying people’s willingness to help protect the environment when making decisions as consumers and citizens. This study aims to predict people’s environmental risk perception and policy support as a function of their values. Specifically, Schwartz’s self-transcendence and self-enhancement value clusters will be examined as determinants to understand why few people choose to make collectively beneficial decisions. Three extensions were made. First, instead of focusing on low-cost lifestyle changes, this study examined policy support that requires substantial personal costs. Second, global and local environmental risk perceptions are treated as two qualitatively different constructs according to their geographical scales. Finally, this study moves beyond an individualistic approach, incorporating country-level forces into the model. Information about the individuals are based on variables measured in the World Value Survey (2005), while cultural orientations and levels of development are measured by the Schwartz Value Survey (2005) and the Human Development Index (2005) respectively. Hierarchical regression are employed, with the nature of interaction being revealed by plotting techniques. The results suggested that perception and responses to environmental risks reflect their most basic value priorities and life goals. Consequently, environmental persuasive messages are most effective when intended behaviors are framed as fulfilling important life goals. However, the effects of person-level constructs greatly vary with social contexts and issue scales, suggesting that different strategies are preferred when dealing with risks associated with different geographical frame. Finally, cultural orientations and levels of development will influence the way members of a society respond to environmental threats. Practical implications for environmental risk communication are proposed and discussed.

Kwan, John, Kenny, Bond, and Robins conceptualize self-enhancement as a favorable comparison of self-judgments with judgments of and by others. Applying a modified version of Kwan et al.’s approach to behavior observation data, we show that the resulting measure of self-enhancement bias is highly reliable, predicts self-ratings of intelligence as well as does actual intelligence, interacts with item desirability in predicting responses to questionnaire items, and also predicts general life satisfaction. Consistent with previous research, however, self-ratings of intelligence did not become more valid when controlling for self-enhancement bias. We also show that common personality scales like the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale reflect self-enhancement at least as strongly as do scales that were designed particularly for that purpose (i.e., “social desirability scales”). The relevance of these findings in regard to the validity and utility of social desirability scales is discussed.