The Relational-Interdependent Self-Construal and Positive Illusions in Friendship

Abstract

Three studies investigated whether the tendency to define the self in terms of close relationships moderates positive illusions in friendship (i.e., operationalized as the better-than-average effect). High scorers on the Relational-Interdependent Self-Construal (RISC) Scale were more likely to enhance a close/best friend over an acquaintance (Study 1), were more likely to exploit attribute ambiguity to favor their friends (Study 2), and were more likely to enhance their friends on communal over agentic attributes (Study 3) than low-RISCs. High-RISCs reported satisfying friendships and perceived their friendships to be better than average, compared to moderate- and low-RISCs. Also, friend enhancement on communal over agentic attributes predicted friendship satisfaction and friendship enhancement, but only for high-RISCs. These effects remained when controlling for personal self-esteem. We conclude by discussing directions for future research.

Keywords::

• Friendship
• Relational-Interdependent Self-Construal
• Positive illusions
• Relationship satisfaction
• Self-enhancement
• Self-esteem

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Brian Pfohl for his assistance with the online data collection for Studies 1 and 2, and Meredith Connor, Rachel Judson, Jane Mellors, Michael Reiss, Michelle Silverman, and Gina Cristina Sima for their research assistance.

Notes

^1. There were no RISC differences on the difference scores for self and acquaintance ratings.

^2. Readers interested in the relationship between personal self-esteem and the outcomes of any of the studies reported here can obtain them by contacting the author.

^3. The full list is available from Dunning et al. (1989, Study 1).

^4. Zero-order correlations among similarity, satisfaction, and enhancement were as follows (all with 100 df): Similarity-satisfaction r = .46, p < .001; similarity-enhancement r = .22, p < .05; satisfaction-enhancement r = .64, p < .001.