Review Article

Exploring the (Mal)adaptive Consequences of Self-Deceptive Enhancement: A Narrative Review

Table 1

SDE measures and outcomes examined across studies.

CitationTopic(s)SDE measure(s)Type of SDE measure(s)Outcome(s)

Beauregard and Dunning [17]Self-esteem, self-enhancement, contrast effectSocial comparisonSelf-reportSelf-reported self-esteem
Brookings and Serratelli [18]SDE, positive illusions, subjective well-being, moral reasoningBIDR; HSMSelf-reportSubjective well-being, self-reported moral reasoning
Brown [19]SDE, self-other bias, self-esteemSocial comparisonSelf-reportSelf-reported self-esteem, self-reported self-image
Chance et al. [4]SDE, learning, unethical behaviorCriterion-discrepancyPerformance-basedLearning
Chance et al. [20]SDE, learning, unethical behaviorCriterion-discrepancyPerformance-basedLearning
Ferrari et al. [21]SDE, substance abuseBIDR-SDESelf-reportParticipation in 12-step groups
Gramzow et al. [22]SDE, self-evaluation bias, academic performance, motivationCriterion-discrepancyPerformance-basedAcademic performance
Gudjonsson and Moore [23]Self-deception, other deception, psychopathologySDQSelf-reportPsychopathology
Gupta and Bonanno [24]SDE, response to traumaBIDR-SDESelf-reportSelf-reported and observed distress
Gushue et al. [25]SDE, color-blind attitudes in psychology trainees, prejudiceBIDR-SDESelf-reportSelf-reported color-blind racial attitudes
Hrgović and Hromatko [26]SDE, depression, SESBIDR-SDESelf-reportSelf-reported depressive symptoms
Humberg et al. [27]SDE, self-perception, self-knowledge, psychological adjustment, interpersonal adjustmentCriterion-discrepancySelf-reportSubjective well-being, self and peer-rated interpersonal functioning
Jamner and Schwartz [28]SDE, physical pain, copingEPI-lie scaleSelf-reportSelf-reported affective pain judgments
Johnson et al. [29]SDE, self-esteem, problem-solvingSDS; BIDR-SDESelf-reportProblem-solving performance
Joiner et al. [30]Positive illusions, SDE, self-other discrepancy, depressionSocial comparisonSelf-reportSelf-reported depressive symptoms
Kim and Chiu [31]SDE, self-effacement, depressionCriterion-discrepancyPerformance-basedSelf-reported depressive symptoms
Kobayashi and Brown [32]SDE, self-esteem, cultureSocial comparisonSelf-reportSelf-reported self-esteem
Lamba and Nityananda [33]SDE, other-deception, riskCriterion-discrepancyPerformance-basedAbility to deceive others
Lee and Klein [34]SDE, self-efficacy, learning, conscientiousnessBIDR-SDESelf-reportSelf-reported self-efficacy, learning
Lester [35]Self-deception, personality, neuroticismSDQSelf-reportSelf-reported neuroticism and openness
Levi and Bachar [9]Narcissism, SDE, posttraumatic growthBIDR-SDESelf-reportSelf-reported posttraumatic growth, self-reported PTSD symptoms, self-reported narcissism
Liu et al. [36]SDE, positive beliefs, effect of negative feedback, learning, ethical behaviorCriterion-discrepancyPerformance-basedLearning, accurate self-awareness about performance
Lu and Chang [37]SDE, moral self-concept, self-consciousness, altruistic behaviorBIDR-SDESelf-reportSelf-reported moral self-concept, self-reported helping intention
Lynn et al. [38]SDE, mating success, gender differencesBIDR-SDE; Criterion-discrepancySelf-report; performance-basedSelf-reported intercourse partner rate, partner social status
Martínez-González et al. [39]SDE, substance abuse, personality disordersIAMSelf-reportSelf-reported addiction-related beliefs and cravings, duration of abstinence
Martocchio and Judge [40]SDE, learning, conscientiousness, self-efficacyBIDR-SDESelf-reportLearning, self-reported self-efficacy
Marzana et al. [41]SDE, domestic violence, moral self-concept, moral absolutismBIDR-SDESelf-reportSelf-reported moral self-concept, self-reported moral absolutism, domestic violence
Mijovic-Prelec and Prelec [42]SDE, motivation, confidence, ethical behaviorCriterion-discrepancyPerformance-basedEffort, ethical behavior, self-reported confidence
Moore et al. [43]SDE, depression, schizophrenia, awareness of illnessBIDR-SDESelf-reportSelf-reported depressive symptoms, level of awareness of illness
Murray et al. [44]Positive illusions, idealization, relationship satisfaction, self-esteemCriterion-discrepancySelf-reportSelf-reported relationship satisfaction, self-reported self-esteem
Norem [45]SDE, optimism, interpersonal functioningBIDR-SDESelf-reportSelf-reported optimism, self-reported self-esteem/self-image, self-reported social support
Otter and Egan [46]SDE, personality, psychopathology, antisocial behaviorPDSSelf-reportSelf-reported antisocial thinking, self-reported psychopathy, self-reported personality
Peterson et al. [10]SDE, learning, problem-solving, gamblingBIDR; EPI-lie scaleSelf-reportLearning, loss of money in gambling task
Peterson et al. [47]SDE, learningBIDR-SDESelf-reportLearning, task performance
Pittarello et al. [48]SDE, attention, ethical behaviorCriterion-discrepancyPerformance-basedEthical behavior, attention
Pompili et al. [49]SDE, hopelessness, suicide riskBIDR-SDESelf-reportSelf-reported hopelessness
Raskin et al. [50]Defensive self-enhancement, narcissism, self-esteemSocial comparison; DSESelf-reportSelf-reported self-esteem, self-reported grandiosity, self-reported narcissism
Reed et al. [51]Positive illusions, SDE, physical healthResponses to HIV; LOTSelf-reportSelf-reported acceptance of illness, survival time
Robinson and Ryff [52]SDE, temporal judgments, well-beingSDQSelf-reportSubjective well-being
Roth and Ingram [53]SDE, depressionSDQSelf-reportSelf-reported depressive symptoms
Smith et al. [54]Self-deception, persuasion, interpersonal functioningPersuasion taskPerformance-basedPerformance on persuasion task
Starek and Keating [55]SDE, motivation, performance in competitionSDQSelf-reportAthletic competition success
Strom and Barone [56]SDE, self-esteem, substance abuseBIDR-SDESelf-reportBeliefs about control over drinking, self-esteem
Surbey [57]SDE, depression, cooperation, attributional stylesBIDR-SDE; SDQSelf-reportSelf-reported depressive symptoms, attributional style, intentions to cooperate
Taylor and Gollwitzer [58]Positive illusions, mindset (deliberative vs implemental), goal pursuit, self-perceptionSocial comparisonSelf-reportSelf-reported self-esteem, self-reported mood, perceived risk
Taylor et al. [59]SDE, physical health, stressHSMSelf-reportCardiovascular responses, cortisol, self-reported and clinician rated psychological health
Tester and Gleaves [60]SDE, body image, “thin ideal”BIDR-SDESelf-reportAwareness and internalization of thin ideal
Tomaka et al. [61]SDE, stress, copingSDSSelf-reportAppraisal of threat, physiological reactivity
Vecina [11]SDE, domestic violence, moral self-conceptBIDR-SDESelf-reportSelf-reported moral absolutism, self-reported self-acceptance, domestic violence
Wakeman et al. [62]SDE, counterfeit competence, self-esteem, ethical behaviorCriterion-discrepancyPerformance-basedUnethical behavior, self-reported perception of competence
Werhun and Cox [63]SDE, anxiety sensitivity, repressionBIDR-SDESelf-reportSelf-reported anxiety sensitivity, self-reported repression, self-reported coping style
Wright et al. [64]SDE, deception, lie detection, interpersonal functioningBIDR-SDESelf-reportLie detection accuracy, ability to deceive others, self-reported machiavellianism, self-reported narcissism, self-reported psychopathy
Yan and Bonanno [65]SDE, conjugal bereavement, loneliness, interpersonal functioningBIDR-SDESelf-reportClinician-rated PTSD, complicated grief, and depression; self-reported loneliness, self-reported and peer-rated interpersonal functioning

Note. BIDR-SDE = balanced inventory of desirable responding self-deceptive enhancement scale [12]; EPI lie scale = eysenck personality inventory lie scale [66]; HSM = how i see myself questionnaire [58]; IAM = self-deception and mystification inventory [15]; LOT = life orientation test [67]; PDS = paulhus deception scales [68]; responses to HIV = responses to HIV questionnaire, realistic acceptance factor [51]; SDS = Marlowe–Crowne social desirability scale [69]; SDQ = self-deception questionnaire [13].