title: The hubris hypothesis: you can self-enhance, but you'd better not show it.
abstract: We tested whether and why observers dislike individuals who convey self-superiority through blatant social comparison (the hubris hypothesis). Participants read self-superiority claims ("I am better than others"; Experiments 1-7), noncomparative positive claims ("I am good"; Experiments 1-2, 4), self-equality claims ("I am as good as others"; Experiments 3-4, 6), temporally comparative self-superiority claims ("I am better than I used to be"; Experiment 5), other-superiority claims ("S/he is better than others"; Experiment 6), and self-superiority claims accompanied by persistent disclaimers (Experiment 7). They judged the claim and the claimant (Experiments 1-7) and made inferences about the claimant's self-view and view of others (Experiments 4-7) as well as the claimant's probable view of them (Experiment 7). Self-superiority claims elicited unfavorable evaluations relative to all other claims. Evaluation unfavorability was accounted for by the perception that the claimant implied a negative view of others (Experiments 4-6) and particularly of the observer (Experiment 7). Supporting the hubris hypothesis, participants disliked individuals who communicated self-superiority beliefs in an explicitly comparative manner. Self-superiority beliefs may provoke undesirable interpersonal consequences when they are explicitly communicated to others but not when they are disguised as noncomparative positive self-claims or self-improvement claims.
authors.affiliation: Center of Social and Cultural Psychology, University of Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, Mailbox 3727, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Vera.Hoorens@psy.kuleuven.be
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hoorens
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pandelaere
authors.forename: Frans
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oldersma
authors.forename: Constantine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sedikides
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004532:Ego; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007062:Identification, Psychological; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009289:Narcissism; D010379:Peer Group; D012649:Self Concept; D012934:Social Isolation; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult