ABSTRACT
What do people want to know about themselves? What information are they likely to endorse or reject? For exactly what sort of self-definition do people strive and what kind of self-knowledge will they store in their memory? Epistemic and pragmatic reasons suggest that people strive, or at least should strive, for a selfdefinition that is accurate, balanced, and truthful. Epistemic reasons date back to ancient Greek philosophers. Socrates, for example, advocated the pursuit of accurate self-knowledge (gnothi seauton) as the highest human virtue and value. Socrates prescribed self-scrutiny as the method to achieve truthful knowledge about the self, and he also guarded against the uncritical endorsement of desirable information. Importantly, the search for an accurate self-definition has pragmatic benefits. Such a definition informs and guides the individual in selecting environments that match her or his abilities, including appropriate positions in professional and social hierarchies. Hence, in the long run, an accurate self-definition
facilitates planning, contributes to goal success, and enhances personal and social well-being (Strube, 1990; Strube, Yost, & Bailey, 1992; Trope, 1986).
