Citation

Boyle MP, McLeod DM, Rojas H. Am. Behav. Sci. 2008; 52(2): 165-185.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0002764208321349

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Ego enhancement has been offered as the psychological mechanism that drives differences in judgments about effects on self and others. This study employs a three-cell (ego threat, ego enhancement, and control) experimental design to test the validity of the ego-enhancement argument in explaining the third-person perception and related outcomes (e.g., support for government control). Findings indicate that although ego enhancement does not appear to directly influence either third-person perception or its relationship to support for government control, it does play a moderating role in regulating the relationship between perceived effects and support for controls, especially in the case of perceived effects on others. Specifically, the ego-enhancement condition effectively muted the relationship between estimates of effects and support for government control. Implications of these findings and directions for further research are also discussed.