A cross-cultural study of trait self-enhancement, explanatory variables, and adjustment

Abstract

We investigated trait self-enhancement, explanatory variables, and adjustment in European American ( n = 141), Asian American ( n = 72), Mexican ( n = 141), and Filipino ( n = 174) college students. Consistent with trait perspectives, students in all cultural groups rated their traits with moderate to high accuracy, using peer ratings as a criterion. European Americans did not exhibit self-enhancement relative to peers, but both self and peer ratings were higher (i.e., more positive) for European Americans than for the other three groups. Support was found for some, but not all, cultural psychology explanations of self-enhancement. In all cultural groups, self-enhancement was more associated with personal (intrapsychic) adjustment than interpersonal adjustment, as judged by peers. The results provided support for an integration of trait and cultural psychology perspectives.