THE JAPANESE JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Online ISSN : 1348-6276
Print ISSN : 0387-7973
ISSN-L : 0387-7973
SELF-DEPRECATIVE TENDENCIES IN SELF EVALUATION THROUGH SOCIAL COMPARISON
TOSHITAKE TAKATA
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1987 Volume 27 Issue 1 Pages 27-36

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Abstract

Three experiments based on Schwartz and Smith (1976) 's research were made, trying to explore the cultural differences of the process of self-evaluation. According to their findings, the greater the difference of performances between self and other, and/or the the smaller the variance in the other's performance, the higher is certainty about one's abillty level, regardless whether one is superior to the other or not. Experiment I failed to duplicate Schwartz & Smith's findings and showed strong self-deprecative tendencies in self-evaluation, however. Namely, the cartainty of self-evaluation was high when one is inferior to the other, regardless of the performance differences and the variance in other's performance. Experiment II also did not support Schwartz & Smith's hypothesis derived from the analogy with a t test for the difference of two means, in spite of the slightest situational implications for the srategic deprecating self-presentation. In experiment III, where subjects are to judge two others' ability level, the parametric metaphor hypothesis was supported. Implications of these findings for the strategic self-presentation and/or the self-evaluation processes through social comparison in Japanese culture were discussed.

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© The Japanese Group Dynamics Association
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