The better-than-average effect in comparative self-evaluation: a comprehensive review and meta-analysis
The better-than-average effect in comparative self-evaluation: a comprehensive review and meta-analysis
The better-than-average-effect (BTAE) is the tendency for people to perceive their abilities, attributes, and personality traits as superior compared with their average peer. This article offers a comprehensive review of the BTAE and the first quantitative synthesis of the BTAE literature. We define the effect, differentiate it from related phenomena, and describe relevant methodological approaches, theories, and psychological mechanisms. Next, we present a comprehensive meta-analysis of BTAE studies, including data from 124 published articles, 291 independent samples, and more than 950,000 participants. Results indicated that the BTAE is robust across studies (dz = 0.78, 95% CI [0.71, 0.84]), with little evidence of publication bias. Further, moderation tests suggested that the BTAE is larger in the case of personality traits than abilities, positive as opposed to negative dimensions, and in studies that (a) use the direct rather than the indirect method, (b) involve many rather than few dimensions, (c) sample European Americans rather than East-Asians (especially for individualistic traits), and (d) counterbalance self and average peer judgments. Finally, the BTAE is moderately associated with self-esteem (r = .34) and life satisfaction (r = .33). Results from selection model analyses clarify areas of the BTAE literature in which publication bias may be of elevated concern. Discussion highlights theoretical and empirical implications.
Better-than-average effect, Positive illusions, Self-enhancement, Self-evaluation, Social comparison
118-149
Zell, E.
e09e9c48-aaeb-42a1-909c-a3d34bdd0f4c
Strickhourser, J.E.
cb9a98b5-7ba0-4520-8ee2-c4b09fec8067
Sedikides, C.
9d45e66d-75bb-44de-87d7-21fd553812c2
Alicke, M.D.
f0e9afd2-1f51-4e6e-80d6-7a88421ac578
February 2020
Zell, E.
e09e9c48-aaeb-42a1-909c-a3d34bdd0f4c
Strickhourser, J.E.
cb9a98b5-7ba0-4520-8ee2-c4b09fec8067
Sedikides, C.
9d45e66d-75bb-44de-87d7-21fd553812c2
Alicke, M.D.
f0e9afd2-1f51-4e6e-80d6-7a88421ac578
Zell, E., Strickhourser, J.E., Sedikides, C. and Alicke, M.D.
(2020)
The better-than-average effect in comparative self-evaluation: a comprehensive review and meta-analysis.
Psychological Bulletin, 146 (2), .
(doi:10.1037/bul0000218).
Abstract
The better-than-average-effect (BTAE) is the tendency for people to perceive their abilities, attributes, and personality traits as superior compared with their average peer. This article offers a comprehensive review of the BTAE and the first quantitative synthesis of the BTAE literature. We define the effect, differentiate it from related phenomena, and describe relevant methodological approaches, theories, and psychological mechanisms. Next, we present a comprehensive meta-analysis of BTAE studies, including data from 124 published articles, 291 independent samples, and more than 950,000 participants. Results indicated that the BTAE is robust across studies (dz = 0.78, 95% CI [0.71, 0.84]), with little evidence of publication bias. Further, moderation tests suggested that the BTAE is larger in the case of personality traits than abilities, positive as opposed to negative dimensions, and in studies that (a) use the direct rather than the indirect method, (b) involve many rather than few dimensions, (c) sample European Americans rather than East-Asians (especially for individualistic traits), and (d) counterbalance self and average peer judgments. Finally, the BTAE is moderately associated with self-esteem (r = .34) and life satisfaction (r = .33). Results from selection model analyses clarify areas of the BTAE literature in which publication bias may be of elevated concern. Discussion highlights theoretical and empirical implications.
Text
Zell Strickhouser Sedikides Alicke 2019_
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 22 October 2019
Published date: February 2020
Additional Information:
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 American Psychological Association.
Keywords:
Better-than-average effect, Positive illusions, Self-enhancement, Self-evaluation, Social comparison
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 435685
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/435685
ISSN: 0033-2909
PURE UUID: 34ecb416-3ee2-47d0-a0f5-ca21c2dd5a75
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Date deposited: 18 Nov 2019 17:30
Last modified: 30 Jul 2022 01:36
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Contributors
Author:
E. Zell
Author:
J.E. Strickhourser
Author:
M.D. Alicke
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