ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the self-enhancement motive and the ways in which it affects people's everyday behavior. It looks at ways in which people react to events that damage their self-esteem and then at ways by which they try preemptively to prevent damage from occurring. The chapter also examines two instances in which the self-enhancement motive seems to go awry—narcissism and impostorism. The self-enhancement motive appears to be a pervasive, fundamental, and nearly universal aspect of human nature. Research also suggests, alternatively, that impostorism may reflect a self-presentational tactic designed to influence the perceptions of others. Many psychologists and laypeople alike have come to believe that high self-esteem is a good thing and that the self-enhancement motive is thus beneficial for keeping self-esteem high. The self-enhancement motive may also promote certain aspects of mental health. For example, having high self-esteem tends to be associated with happiness and personal contentment, as well as with low anxiety.
