ABSTRACT
Therecentresurgenceofinterestintheselfhasbroughtwithita proliferationofminitheories,eachfocusingonadistinctiveaspectof howpeopledescribe,define,orexpressthemselves.Mostapproaches canbedistinguishedbasedonwheretheyfallontwointersectingdimensions,thefourquadrantsofwhichcanbecharacterizedbytheterms "self-reflection,""self-disclosure,""self-deception,"and"self-presentation."Thefirstdimensiondescribestheactor'spurportedmotiveforthe activity.Istheactorseekingaccuracyorpersonaladvantage?Incommon parlance,theterms"self-reflection"and"self-disclosure"areregarded asattemptsbytheactortoacquire,crystallize,orconveyaccurateinformationabouttheself.Themotiveappearstobethepursuitor expressionofknowledge.Incontrast,theterms"self-deception"and "self-presentation"areviewedasattemptstopackageorfabricateinformationthatisintheactor'sbestinterests.Themotiveistobenefitthe self.AsTetlockandLevi(1982)indicated,theoreticalpositionscanbe groupedintothosethatemphasizetheacquisitionanduseoflogically accurateinformationabouttheselfandthosethatemphasizemotivated biasesthatservetoprotectandenhanceviewsoftheself.Thesecond dimensionreflectstheprivateorpublicnatureoftheactivity.Self-reflection andself-deceptionareprivateandareperformedfortheself.Selfdisclosureandself-presentationarepublicandareperformed,atleastin part,forothers.AsTetlockandManstead(1985)noted,theoretical positionscanbereadilygroupedintothosethatemphasizeintrapsychic versusinterpersonalprocesses.
