Self-Love or Other-Love? Explicit Other-Preference but Implicit Self-Preference

Jochen E Gebauer,Constantine Sedikides,Anja S Göritz,Wilhelm Hofmann

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0041789

Jochen E Gebauer, Constantine Sedikides + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0041789

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Abstract

Do humans prefer the self even over their favorite other person? This question has pervaded philosophy and social-behavioral sciences. Psychology’s distinction between explicit and implicit preferences calls for a two-tiered solution. Our evolutionarily-based Dissociative Self-Preference Model offers two hypotheses. Other-preferences prevail at an explicit level, because they convey caring for others, which strengthens interpersonal bonds–a major evolutionary advantage. Self-preferences, however, prevail at an implicit level, because they facilitate self-serving automatic behavior, which favors the self in life-or-die situations–also a major evolutionary advantage. We examined the data of 1,519 participants, who completed an explicit measure and one of five implicit measures of preferences for self versus favorite other. The results were consistent with the Dissociative Self-Preference Model. Explicitly, participants preferred their favorite other over the self. Implicitly, however, they preferred the self over their favorite other (be it their child, romantic partner, or best friend). Results are discussed in relation to evolutionary theorizing on self-deception.

Highlights

Is the self the most cherished entity that humans possess, preferred even over their most valued other person? Alternatively, as cultural animals [1], do humans prefer their favorite other over the self? This issue has pervaded philosophical thinking and the social-behavioral sciences ever since Aristotle [2] coined the terms ‘self-love’ and ‘other-love.’ Polarizing views on human nature as ‘‘bad’’ versus ‘‘good’’, this issue lies at the heart of the Hume-Rousseau debate in Western philosophy [3], the Xunzi-Mencius debate in Confusion philosophy [4], and the Machiavelli-Botero quarrel in politics [5]
Dissociative Self-Preference Model To address the above two pivotal questions, we propose the Dissociative Self-Preference Model
We report a study in which we examine the two hypotheses derived from the Dissociative Self-Preference Model

Summary

Introduction

Is the self the most cherished entity that humans possess, preferred even over their most valued other person (e.g., child, romantic partner, best friend)? Alternatively, as cultural animals [1], do humans prefer their favorite other over the self? This issue has pervaded philosophical thinking and the social-behavioral sciences ever since Aristotle [2] coined the terms ‘self-love’ and ‘other-love.’ Polarizing views on human nature as ‘‘bad’’ (manifested by a relative preference for self) versus ‘‘good’’ (manifested by a relative preference for others), this issue lies at the heart of the Hume-Rousseau debate in Western philosophy [3], the Xunzi-Mencius debate in Confusion philosophy [4], and the Machiavelli-Botero quarrel in politics [5]. As cultural animals [1], do humans prefer their favorite other over the self? Preferences can be held at an implicit level; as such, they are automatic, spontaneous, and impulsive [10,11]. These psychological advances illustrate the need to ask two, instead of one, questions regarding the dynamic of self-other preferences. Are preferences for self more or less prevalent than preferences for favorite other at an explicit level? Are preferences for self more or less prevalent than preferences for favorite other at an implicit level? Are preferences for self more or less prevalent than preferences for favorite other at an explicit level? Second, are preferences for self more or less prevalent than preferences for favorite other at an implicit level? Our answers to these two questions are guided by an evolutionary model that we outline

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