This Only Happens to Others

Abstract

Abstract. This paper investigates the specific self-presentational situations in which people confirm or negate their comparative optimism in order to convey a favorable self-image. One pilot study and three experiments showed that people increase their comparative optimism to convey an image of competence, but not one of warmth (Pilot Study, Study 1), as well as to present an advantageous self-image in professional situations, although not in friendship situations (Studies 2–3). These effects occur in self-presentation situations involving both low (Studies 1–2) and high (Study 3) levels of accountability. Additional findings indicate that the presentation of a risk-taking self-image is unrelated to comparative optimism, whereas the presentation of a modest self-image leads people to decrease their comparative optimism estimates (Study 3). Results are discussed in the light of the underlying self-presentational motivations in specific situations.

Impression (Mis) Management When Communicating Success

“…Participants were asked to imagine being in a job interview. Whereas such settings might particularly evoke the goal to appear competent (Le Barbenchon et al, 2016), the audience likely still values warmth also in professional contexts (Cann, 2004).…”

“…Building on these findings, three experiments explore to which causes people attribute their successes in impression management situations. In these experiments, people imagine themselves in a job interview (Experiments 1 and 3) versus on a date (Experiment 2) to elicit self-presentational goals (Le Barbenchon, Milhabet, & Bry, 2016). I then test whether people's attributions of success to effort versus talent are calibrated toward the preferences of their audience.…”

The competitive dimension of comparative optimism / La dimensión competitiva del optimismo comparativo

“…The model includes a first path coefficient, a, which relates the independent variable to the mediator, and a second path coefficient, b, which relates the mediator to the dependent variable and is adjusted for the independent variable (MacKinnon, Fairchild, & Fritz, 2007). A review of the literature (e.g., Cohen et al, 2016;Le Barbenchon et al, 2016;Murayama & Elliot, 2012) leads us to expect .26 < a < .39 and .39 < b < .59. Fritz and MacKinnon (2007) call these effect sizes HM.…”

“…Furthermore, people exhibited CO when asked to present a favourable self-image (Tyler & Rosier, 2009), especially when wanting to convey a favourable self-image of competence (Hoorens et al, 2017; Le Barbenchon, Milhabet, & Bry, 2016). Le Barbenchon, Milhabet, Steiner, and Priolo (2008) found that people exhibiting strong CO in the context of professional fields were more highly regarded than those who exhibited low CO. People who expressed optimism or CO were generally perceived as people who take risks, undertake new projects in professional fields (Helweg-Larsen et al, 2002; Milhabet, Le Barbenchon, Cambon, & Molina, 2015) and assume entrepreneurial responsibilities (Ucbasaran, Flores, & Westhead, 2007; Ucbasaran et al, 2010). Accordingly, Milhabet et al (2015; see also Hoorens et al, 2017) concluded that people with strong CO were deemed socially useful (i.e., assertive, self-confident, competent and goal-oriented).…”

“…Indeed, in competition, people want to be better or more efficient than others, so CO can be seen as a way of evaluating and valuing oneself compared to others. In addition, CO targets are more valued in terms of their social utility and ambition as well as in a professional context than neutral targets and CPs (Le Barbenchon et al, 2008). Similarly, as discussed above, competition is linked to social utility through the dimensions of self-assertion and agency (Dubois & Beauvois, 2005).…”