Self-other differences in the perceived authenticity of attitudes expressed toward social groups

Front Psychol. 2024 Dec 16:15:1467396. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1467396. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

We assessed the perceived authenticity of attitudes expressed toward several social groups as a function of whether those attitudes were expressed by the self or by other people, and whether those expressions were automatic (without time to ponder) or controlled (without time constraints). Participants considered their controlled responses more authentic than their automatic responses. However, the same did not happen when considering others' attitudes. Implications for social perception are discussed.

Keywords: better-than-average effect; dual-process models; perceived authenticity; pluralistic ignorance; self-other differences; true self.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study received Portuguese national funding from FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., through the project PTDC/PSI-GER/7592/2020: doi: 10.54499/PTDC/PSI-GER/7592/2020.