selfenhancement

Self-enhancement is a psychological motive to maintain or improve one's positive self-view and self-esteem. It involves cognitive and behavioral strategies that present the self in favorable terms, attribute successes to internal causes, minimize or rationalize failures, and seek feedback that confirms valued qualities. Researchers distinguish self-enhancement from self-improvement; the former focuses on favorable self-views, the latter on reducing gaps between the actual and desired self.

In social psychology, evidence for self-enhancement comes from self-serving attribution biases, discrepancies between self and others’ ratings of one’s traits, and the tendency to overestimate personal control and competence. Common mechanisms include basking in reflected glory, downward social comparisons to feel superior, and selective memory or information processing that preserves a positive self-image.

Cultural and contextual factors shape the strength and expression of self-enhancement. Individualistic cultures tend to show stronger self-enhancement in assessment of abilities and traits, whereas collectivist contexts emphasize modesty and group-oriented rather than personal uplift. Threats to self-worth often intensify self-enhancement efforts, while accurate feedback or feedback denial can modulate these tendencies.

Adaptive and maladaptive roles are debated. On the positive side, modest self-enhancement can buffer against stress and support motivation. On the negative side, excessive self-enhancement relates to narcissism, distorted self-knowledge, and risk-taking or resistance to feedback.

Measurement challenges include reliance on self-report and social desirability; triangulation with peer ratings or behavioral data helps assess genuine self-enhancement tendencies.