In search of the optimal ego: When self-enhancement bias helps and hurts adjustment.

Abstract

Readers familiar with Greek mythology will remember Narcissus as an egotistical man who scorned the love of a nymph named Echo and so was cursed by the gods to fall in love with his own reflection in a pond. Enthralled by his own beauty, he refused to leave his image even to eat or sleep, and he slowly wasted away. Some say that was the end to it, whereas others say that he turned into the narcissus flower. Either way, his vanity became his curse, leading to his tragic ending.Many similar cautionary tales of the ancient Greeks, who were strong proponents of accurate self-perception and humility, demonstrate clearly their hearty disapproval of narcissism. Even centuries later, modern psychology looks on it unfavorably enough to deem it a disorder. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; American Psychiatric Association, 1994), individuals with narcissistic personality disorder exhibit a grandiose sense of self-importance and an unreasonable sense of entitlement. These individuals are interpersonally exploitative and have deficits in empathy and a need for excessive admiration (see also chap. 2, this volume).Not many people actually qualify as having a narcissistic personality disorder, although overly positive self-evaluations (i.e., self-enhancement bias) are pervasive in today's U.S. society (Taylor & Brown, 1988). In the 1970s, nicknamed the "Me Decade," people began to turn toward concentrating on their own desires and pleasures. The self began to gain popularity quickly then, and snowballed into the egocentric culture of today.With the recent trend of elevated self-esteem and bigger egos, psychologists have begun to explore the nuances and ramifications of self-enhancement bias, leading to a debate that has spanned 3 decades and continues today. Is self-enhancement good or bad? As it turns out, the answer here, as in any complex situation, is "It depends." Some studies have found that self-enhancement is beneficial to adjustment, whereas other studies have found that self-

Self‐presentation style in job interviews: the role of personality and culture

“…Yet both experts and nonexperts in Study 2 were taken in by the claims of self‐promoters. If evaluators believe the individual to be truly competent, then they tend to overlook their narcissistic behavior (Kwan et al., ). This tendency is especially unfortunate given that the positive first impressions of narcissists are known to wane and even reverse (Paulhus, ).…”

“…That negative perspective must be reconsidered in light of more recent studies indicating trade‐offs in the adaptive value of chronic self‐promotion (Campbell, ; Campbell et al., ; Goorin & Bonanno, ; Harms, Spain, & Hannah, ; Kwan, Kuang, & Zhao, ; Paunonen, Lönnqvist, Verkasalo, Leikas, & Nissinen, ; Taylor et al., ). In particular, it seems that initial reactions to self‐promoters are actually positive (Back, Schmukle, & Egloff, ; Friedman, Oltmanns, Gleason, & Turkheimer, ; Paulhus, ).…”

Moving beyond parents in the etiology of narcissistic traits.

“…Although cultural pundits and social scientists will continue to debate the benefits and costs of promoting self-esteem (Kwan, Kuang, & Zhao, 2008), recent evidence has suggested that narcissistic traits may be on the rise in the United States. Twenge et al (2008) caused a stir in the academic community and lay public when they published findings suggesting an increase in narcissism over a 25-year period.…”

Feedback Seeking in Early Adolescence

“…Self-enhancement may be positively associated with mental health, although the benefits depend on situational factors (Kwan, Kuang, & Zhao, 2008; Taylor, Lerner, Sherman, Sage, & McDowell, 2003). Preference for self-enhancing feedback has been found to predict adjustment (Sedikides, Gregg, & Hart, 2007).…”

“…Developmental investigations of self-enhancement and self-verification may help explain the emergence and maintenance of certain types of adjustment problems such as depression and eating disturbances during adolescence (Joiner, 1999; Swann, 2012; Swann, Wenzlaff, Krull, & Pelham, 1992). Self-enhancement may be positively associated with mental health, although the benefits depend on situational factors (Kwan, Kuang, & Zhao, 2008; Taylor, Lerner, Sherman, Sage, & McDowell, 2003). Preference for self-enhancing feedback has been found to predict adjustment (Sedikides, Gregg, & Hart, 2007).…”