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Self-love or other-love? Explicit other-preference but implicit self-preference

Self-love or other-love? Explicit other-preference but implicit self-preference
Self-love or other-love? Explicit other-preference but implicit self-preference
Do humans prefer the self even over their favorite other person? This question has pervaded philosophy and social-behavioral sciences. Psychology’s distinction between explicit and implicit preferences calls for a two-tiered solution. Our evolutionarily-based Dissociative Self-Preference Model offers two hypotheses. Other-preferences prevail at an explicit level, because they convey caring for others, which strengthens interpersonal bonds–a major evolutionary advantage. Self-preferences, however, prevail at an implicit level, because they facilitate self-serving automatic behavior, which favors the self in life-or-die situations–also a major evolutionary advantage. We examined the data of 1,519 participants, who completed an explicit measure and one of five implicit measures of preferences for self versus favorite other. The results were consistent with the Dissociative Self-Preference Model. Explicitly, participants preferred their favorite other over the self. Implicitly, however, they preferred the self over their favorite other (be it their child, romantic partner, or best friend). Results are discussed in relation to evolutionary theorizing on self-deception.
1932-6203
Geabauer, J.E.
b94b6fff-8bf1-4d23-8ace-54acb70fe695
Göritz, A.S.
603e0877-ce42-4a2b-a16f-f8dbc6c0d354
Hofmann, W
d1b5fb40-5acf-41b0-a004-45848962bd83
Sedikides, Constantine
9d45e66d-75bb-44de-87d7-21fd553812c2
Geabauer, J.E.
b94b6fff-8bf1-4d23-8ace-54acb70fe695
Göritz, A.S.
603e0877-ce42-4a2b-a16f-f8dbc6c0d354
Hofmann, W
d1b5fb40-5acf-41b0-a004-45848962bd83
Sedikides, Constantine
9d45e66d-75bb-44de-87d7-21fd553812c2

Geabauer, J.E., Göritz, A.S., Hofmann, W and Sedikides, Constantine (2012) Self-love or other-love? Explicit other-preference but implicit self-preference. PLoS ONE, 7 (7). (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0041789).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Do humans prefer the self even over their favorite other person? This question has pervaded philosophy and social-behavioral sciences. Psychology’s distinction between explicit and implicit preferences calls for a two-tiered solution. Our evolutionarily-based Dissociative Self-Preference Model offers two hypotheses. Other-preferences prevail at an explicit level, because they convey caring for others, which strengthens interpersonal bonds–a major evolutionary advantage. Self-preferences, however, prevail at an implicit level, because they facilitate self-serving automatic behavior, which favors the self in life-or-die situations–also a major evolutionary advantage. We examined the data of 1,519 participants, who completed an explicit measure and one of five implicit measures of preferences for self versus favorite other. The results were consistent with the Dissociative Self-Preference Model. Explicitly, participants preferred their favorite other over the self. Implicitly, however, they preferred the self over their favorite other (be it their child, romantic partner, or best friend). Results are discussed in relation to evolutionary theorizing on self-deception.

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Published date: 25 July 2012

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 341636
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/341636
ISSN: 1932-6203
PURE UUID: f61e3c15-7702-4226-a293-9e6728a991db
ORCID for Constantine Sedikides: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-4036-889X

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Date deposited: 31 Jul 2012 09:18
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:02

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Contributors

Author: J.E. Geabauer
Author: A.S. Göritz
Author: W Hofmann

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