Feeling "holier than thou": Are self-serving assessments produced by errors in self- or social prediction?

• DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.79.6.861
• Publication Date: 2005-09-23T15:46:47Z
• Authors: Nicholas Epley; David Dunning
• Keywords: Thou; Self-disclosure

People typically believe they are more likely to engage in selfless, kind, and generous behaviors than their peers, a result that is both logically statistically suspect. However, this oft-documented tendency presents an important ambiguity. Do people feel holier thou because harbor overly cynical views of peers (but accurate impressions themselves) or charitable themselves (and peers)? Four studies suggested it was the latter. Participants consistently overestimated likelihood would act selfless ways, whereas predictions others were considerably accurate. Two final suggest divergence accuracy arises, part, unwilling consult population base rates when predicting own behavior but use diagnostic information readily others'.