Self-Verification and Self-Enhancement in Newly Formed Multicultural Groups

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine when self-verification (the motivation to confirm one’s self-concept) and self-enhancement (the motivation to be viewed in a positive light) occur in newly formed multicultural groups. Many suggest that enhancement is a prepotent motive to verification (Sedikides & Gregg, 2008; Sedikides, 1993), but when verification occurs, it results in greater group performance, trust, and group identification in diverse groups (Polzer, Milton, & Swann, 2002). Research on intimate relationships has shown that factors such as relationship length, as well as levels of future certainty, commitment, and evaluation can influence preferences for enhancing versus verifying feedback (Swann, De La Ronde, & Hixon, 1994; Campbell, Laackenbauer, & Muise, 2006). Based on this research, I predict that groups with a certain future, high commitment, and low evaluation, which I will designate as the “married” groups, will demonstrate higher self-verification than will groups with an uncertain future, low commitment, and high evaluation, designated as “dating” groups. These “dating” groups will demonstrate higher enhancement compared to the “married” groups. As well, as a result of greater cultural verification, the “married” groups will exhibit greater cultural mosaic beliefs (emergence of diverse cultural perspectives and better overall group performance) about their group as well as higher levels of trust, group identification, and group commitment, relative to the “dating” group. The “married” groups will also demonstrate higher performance than the “dating” groups on tasks assessing creativity and accuracy.