Enhanced versus simply positive

A new condition-based regression analysis to disentangle effects of self-enhancement from effects of positivity of self-view

Bibliographic Data

ID6207217
AuthorsSarah Humberg (0000-0002-7891-3622, University of Münster), Michael Dufner (0000-0002-8354-6193, Leipzig University), Felix Schönbrodt (0000-0002-8282-3910, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München), Katharina Geukes (0000-0002-7424-306X, University of Münster), Roos Hutteman (Utrecht University), M Van Zalk (0000-0002-0185-8805, University of Münster), Jaap J A Denissen (0000-0002-6282-4107, Tilburg University), Steffen Nestler (0000-0001-9724-2441, Leipzig University), Mitja D Back (0000-0003-2186-1558, University of Münster)
Year2018
Volume114
Issue2
Pages303-322
Publication date2018-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Personality and Social Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-3514 • E-ISSN: 1939-1315
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1037/pspp0000134
PMID28333473
OpenAlexW2599893741
LanguageEN
Citations received22

Despite a large body of literature and ongoing refinements of analytical techniques, research on the consequences of self-enhancement (SE) is still vague about how to define SE effects, and empirical results are inconsistent. In this paper, we point out that part of this confusion is due to a lack of conceptual and methodological differentiation between effects of individual differences in how much people enhance themselves (SE) and in how positively they view themselves (positivity of self-view; PSV). We show that methods commonly used to analyze SE effects are biased because they cannot differentiate between the effects of PSV and the effects of SE. We provide a new condition-based regression analysis (CRA) that unequivocally identifies effects of SE by testing intuitive and mathematically derived conditions on the coefficients in a bivariate linear regression. Using data from 3 studies on intellectual SE (total N = 566), we then illustrate that the CRA provides novel results as compared with traditional methods. Results suggest that many previously identified SE effects are in fact effects of PSV alone. The new CRA approach thus provides a clear and unbiased understanding of the consequences of SE. It can be applied to all conceptualizations of SE and, more generally, to every context in which the effects of the discrepancy between 2 variables on a third variable are examined. (PsycINFO Database Record

Bivariate analysis · Cognitive psychology · Context (archaeology) · Econometrics · Empirical research · Linear regression · MEDLINE · Psychotherapist · PsycINFO · Regression · Regression analysis · Statistics · Variables · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Cultural Differences and Values · Mathematics · Psychology · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology

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