Cited by 280Social and Intergroup PsychologyPersonality Traits and PsychologyEmotions and Moral Behavior

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Self-awareness, probability of improvement, and the self-serving bias.

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Duval, Thomas Shelley, Silvia, Paul J.·2002·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

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Abstract

Evidence for the self-serving bias (attributing success internally and failure externally) is inconsistent. Although internal success attributions are consistently found, researchers find both internal and external attributions for failure. The authors explain these disparate effects by considering the intersection of 2 systems, a system comparing self against standards and a causal attribution system. It was predicted that success and failure attributions are moderated by self-awareness and by the ability to improve. When self-focus is high (a) success is attributed internally. (b) failure is attributed internally when people can improve, (c) failure is attributed externally when people cannot improve, and (d) these attributions affect state self-esteem. Implications for the self-serving bias are discussed.

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See all 280

Authors: Duval, T. S., & Silvia, P. J.
Affiliations: University of Southern California (US)
ORCID: Silvia, Paul J.
Venue: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 2002-01
Volume: 82
Issue: 1
Pages: 49-61
ISSN: 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
1939-1315
DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.82.1.49
OpenAlex: W2139272475
Cited by: 280
References: 65
Citations by year: 2026: 7 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 14
FWCI: 23.40
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
libres.uncg.edu
Locations: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
NC Digital Online Collection of Knowledge and Scholarship (The University of North Carolina at Greensboro) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Emotions and Moral Behavior
Keywords: self-serving bias, self-awareness, human development, causal attribution, attribution of success and failure, self-esteem, self-focus, attribution bias
MeSH terms: Adult, Humans, Male, Motivation, Prejudice, Probability, Random Allocation, Self Concept, Social Perception

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Self-awareness, probability of improvement, and the self-serving bias.

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