On the Advantages of Modesty

Abstract

This study investigated the impressions conveyed by enhancing, deprecating, or more balanced self-descriptions, all presented without corroborating evidence. Subjects estimated the honesty, self-knowledge, authenticity, and likability of individuals to whom brief self-descriptive statements were attributed. Although self-enhancers were rated as more likable than self-deprecators, those who presented balanced self-descriptions were rated as significantly more authentic, and significantly more likable, than those who made either deprecating or enhancing statements about themselves. However, multiple regressions indicated that self-deprecators and self-enhancers were disliked for somewhat different reasons. Self-enhancers were liked less than those who described themselves in balanced terms primarily because they were judged less honest. In contrast, self-deprecators were disliked partly because they were perceived as lacking in knowledge about themselves. These results are interpreted in terms of the discounting and augmentation principles of attribution theory.