Self-Enhancement Styles Sorting Out Conflicting Evidence on the Effects of Self-Enhancing

<p>Two distinct styles of self-enhancement were proposed, an Offensive Self-Enhancement Style which consisted of people exaggerating their abilities, putting themselves above others and being sensitive to failures, and a Defensive Self-Enhancement Style which consisted of acknowledgment of abilities in response to successes while buffering against failure. It was proposed that Offensive Self- Enhancement would be detrimental to happiness while Defensive Self-Enhancement would promote happiness. To test the theory, participants performed a word-arranging task and then were given either positive or negative false feedback. Participants' self-ratings of their ability at the task were analyzed and compared with various measures of happiness to determine whether the proposed self-enhancement styles exist. Results failed to support the existence of self-enhancement styles. Results were found to support a theory that accurate self-assessment acts to improve self-enhancement through motivated selection of behaviors and experiences.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Masters of Psychology

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis (restricted to Georgia Southern)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Department of Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2001

Author dc:creator

• Fors, Jason D.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Richard Rogers
• Michael Nielson

• ETD
• Offensive self-enhancement style
• Defensive self-enhancement style
• Happiness
• Psychiatry and Psychology
• Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd_legacy/80

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu:etd_legacy-1010