The Effects of the Certainty of Self-Perceptions on Self-Presentation Behaviors: A Test of the Strength of Self-Enhancement Motives

Abstract

The effects of the certainty of individuals' self-perceptions on their related self-presentations were investigated. Subjects were given either a problem set which would ostensibly predict their future performance or sample problems which would not afford an accurate prediction. They also received fictitious success or failure feedback on their performances. Self-presentations were measured by having subjects select 20 problems to solve from tests which varied in difficulty and in how well they could diagnose high and low task ability. Subjects believed that their choice of problems and scores would be known to other group members. When subjects believed that prior performance would accurately predict future performance, self-presentations were consistent with subjects' self-perceptions. However, under low certainty conditions, self-presentations were uniformly positive and unaffected by prior performances. The results appear to support the hypothesis that self-enhancement motives are of sufficient strength to occasion risk-taking in self-presentations when subjects believe they have a chance of succeeding.