Table 1
Means (SDs between brackets) of Self-Superiority Scores and Trait Properties and Correlations with Explicit Self-Esteem Scores.
| AGENCY | COMMUNION | MORALITY | FRIENDLINESS | ABILITY | ASSERTIVENESS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STUDY 1 (N = 134) | ||||||
| Self-superiority | 0.22 (0.64) | 0.75 (0.69) | 0.92 (0.84) | 0.58 (0.81) | 0.23 (0.74) | 0.21 (0.85) |
| Controllability | 3.84 (0.83) | 4.53 (0.79) | 4.48 (1.05) | 4.57 (0.83) | 3.54 (1.04) | 4.13 (0.96) |
| Verifiability | 4.57 (0.72) | 4.49 (0.61) | 3.93 (1.02) | 5.05 (0.76) | 4.53 (0.88) | 4.61 (0.88) |
| Feedback | 4.06 (0.72) | 3.92 (0.75) | 3.67 (0.94) | 4.18 (0.86) | 4.14 (0.89) | 3.98 (0.83) |
| Ambiguity | 4.31 (0.86) | 4.18 (0.83) | 4.29 (1.00) | 4.07 (0.98) | 4.45 (1.03) | 4.18 (0.96) |
| Correlation Self-Esteem | .39*** | .19* | .01 | .31*** | .20* | .41*** |
| Positive traits | ||||||
| Self-superiority | 0.16 (0.78) | 0.90 (0.76) | 0.96 (0.97) | 0.87 (0.90) | 0.15 (0.91) | 0.19 (1.07) |
| Controllability | 3.92 (0.91) | 4.83 (0.93) | 4.46 (1.25) | 5.22 (1.07) | 3.54 (1.28) | 4.29 (1.03) |
| Verifiability | 4.65 (0.88) | 4.71 (0.84) | 3.93 (1.25) | 5.48 (0.95) | 4.54 (1.13) | 4.77 (1.10) |
| Feedback | 4.30 (0.85) | 4.36 (1.01) | 3.71 (1.20) | 4.99 (1.13) | 4.34 (1.04) | 4.25 (1.01) |
| Ambiguity | 4.51 (1.11) | 4.16 (1.57) | 4.29 (1.34) | 4.08 (1.52) | 4.68 (1.37) | 4.35 (1.24) |
| Correlation Self-Esteem | .37*** | .08 | –.01 | .14 | .22* | .36*** |
| Negative traits | ||||||
| Self-superiority | 0.29 (0.90) | 0.61 (0.95) | 0.90 (1.12) | 0.31 (1.26) | 0.31 (1.09) | 0.28 (1.16) |
| Controllability | 3.77 (0.97) | 4.22 (0.94) | 4.51 (1.20) | 3.91 (1.16) | 3.56 (1.14) | 3.97 (1.29) |
| Verifiability | 4.49 (0.84) | 4.27 (0.74) | 3.93 (1.20) | 4.60 (1.11) | 4.51 (1.06) | 4.44 (1.08) |
| Feedback | 3.82 (0.96) | 3.49 (0.99) | 3.61 (1.32) | 3.34 (1.13) | 3.93 (1.23) | 3.69 (1.10) |
| Ambiguity | 4.13 (0.97) | 4.19 (0.89) | 4.31 (1.19) | 4.06 (1.28) | 4.21 (1.27) | 4.02 (1.23) |
| Correlation Self-Esteem | .23** | .21* | .03 | .28*** | .09 | .27** |
| STUDY 2 (N = 316) | ||||||
| Self-superiority | 0.23 (0.66) | 0.90 (0.70) | 1.02 (0.71) | 0.78 (0.82) | 0.34 (0.69) | 0.12 (0.83) |
| Controllability | 3.75 (0.72) | 4.73 (0.79) | 4.75 (0.94) | 4.71 (0.82) | 3.55 (0.87) | 3.94 (0.80) |
| Verifiability | 4.51 (0.65) | 4.68 (0.70) | 4.10 (0.89) | 5.27 (0.85) | 4.57 (0.79) | 4.46 (0.73) |
| Ambiguity | 3.95 (0.79) | 3.69 (0.90) | 3.56 (0.99) | 3.81 (0.98) | 4.09 (0.97) | 3.81 (0.86) |
| Breadth | 4.57 (0.75) | 4.62 (0.81) | 4.37 (0.90) | 4.87 (0.92) | 4.60 (0.84) | 4.54 (0.83) |
| Typicalitya | 3.83 (0.86) | 4.08 (0.89) | 4.15 (0.95) | 4.01 (0.99) | 3.84 (0.97) | 3.83 (0.90) |
| Grantednessb | 3.41 (0.73) | 3.69 (0.66) | 3.64 (0.73) | 3.74 (0.71) | 3.34 (0.77) | 3.47 (0.78) |
| Correlation RSESc | .54*** | .24*** | .15** | .29*** | 34*** | .57*** |
| Correlation LSESd | .43*** | .26*** | .13* | .33*** | .25*** | .47*** |
| Positive traits | ||||||
| Self-superiority | 0.11 (0.68) | 0.81 (0.68) | 0.87 (0.71) | 0.76 (0.85) | 0.18 (0.77) | 0.03 (0.91) |
| Controllability | 3.94 (0.81) | 4.83 (1.04) | 4.83 (1.15) | 4.82 (1.17) | 3.76 (0.99) | 4.12 (0.93) |
| Verifiability | 4.78 (0.81) | 4.77 (0.79) | 4.11 (1.13) | 5.44 (0.96) | 4.76 (0.96) | 4.79 (0.99) |
| Ambiguity | 3.87 (1.01) | 3.79 (1.13) | 3.64 (1.22) | 3.93 (1.30) | 4.15 (1.21) | 3.58 (1.15) |
| Breadth | 4.71 (0.90) | 4.90 (0.92) | 4.59 (1.08) | 5.21 (1.07) | 4.70 (1.06) | 4.72 (1.05) |
| Typicalitya | 3.86 (1.11) | 4.16 (1.14) | 4.02 (1.23) | 4.29 (1.31) | 3.97 (1.33) | 3.74 (1.21) |
| Grantednessb | 3.53 (0.96) | 4.63 (1.10) | 4.56 (1.27) | 4.70 (1.09) | 3.40 (1.04) | 3.65 (1.04) |
| Correlation RSESc | .46*** | .20*** | .09 | .24*** | .25*** | .47*** |
| Correlation LSESd | .36*** | .21*** | .05 | .29*** | .19*** | .38*** |
| Negative traits | ||||||
| Self-superiority | 0.35 (0.78) | 0.99 (0.86) | 1.17 (0.92) | 0.81 (0.97) | 0.50 (0.86) | 0.20 (0.98) |
| Controllability | 3.56 (0.89) | 4.64 (0.95) | 4.67 (1.13) | 4.61 (1.01) | 3.34 (1.07) | 3.78 (1.03) |
| Verifiability | 4.25 (0.80) | 4.59 (0.99) | 4.09 (1.16) | 5.09 (1.13) | 4.37 (0.97) | 4.12 (0.96) |
| Ambiguity | 4.04 (0.90) | 3.59 (0.99) | 3.48 (1.14) | 3.69 (1.14) | 4.03 (1.15) | 4.04 (1.05) |
| Breadth | 4.43 (0.90) | 4.34 (1.11) | 4.15 (1.25) | 4.53 (1.20) | 4.49 (1.03) | 4.36 (1.01) |
| Typicalitya | 3.80 (1.00) | 4.01 (1.04) | 4.29 (1.24) | 3.72 (1.08) | 3.70 (1.16) | 3.91 (1.16) |
| Grantednessb | 3.28 (0.93) | 2.75 (0.92) | 2.73 (1.08) | 2.78 (0.94) | 3.28 (1.00) | 3.29 (1.00) |
| Correlation RSESc | .51*** | .24*** | .15** | .27*** | .33*** | .53** |
| Correlation LSESd | .41*** | .25*** | .17** | .30*** | .24*** | .45*** |
[i] Note. aTypicality = Being typically human. bGrantedness = Taken-for-grantedness. cCorrelation RSES = Pearson correlation with RSES scores. dCorrelation LSES = Pearson correlation with LSES scores. *p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001.
Figure 1
Moral and Agentic Self-Superiority as a Function of Explicit Self-Esteem in Study 1.
Table 2
Mediation of Effect of Facet (Agency, Morality) on Self-Superiority by Trait Property.
| MEDIATOR | IV→MEDIATORa | MEDIATOR→DVb | INDIRECT EFFECT | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | SE | 95% CIc | |||
| STUDY 1 | |||||
| Positive traits | |||||
| Controllability | 0.54*** | –0.09 | –0.05 | 0.05 | [–.133, .049] |
| Verifiability | –0.71*** | –0.07 | 0.05 | 0.05 | [–.152, .057] |
| Feedback | –0.59*** | –0.06 | 0.03 | 0.05 | [–.055, .140] |
| Ambiguity | –0.24* | –0.02 | 0.01 | 0.02 | [–.033, .051] |
| Negative traits | |||||
| Controllability | 0.74*** | –0.02 | –0.01 | 0.06 | [–.131, .100] |
| Verifiability | –0.56*** | –0.07 | 0.04 | 0.05 | [–.042, .136] |
| Feedback | –0.19 | –0.05 | 0.01 | 0.02 | [–.036, .054] |
| Ambiguity | 0.19 | –0.11 | –0.02 | 0.02 | [–.074, .009] |
| STUDY 2 | |||||
| Positive traits | |||||
| Controllability | 0.89*** | 0.07* | 0.06 | 0.03 | [.006, .126] |
| Verifiability | –0.67*** | 0.12*** | –0.08 | 0.02 | [–.125, –.035] |
| Ambiguity | –0.22*** | –0.07 | 0.02 | 0.01 | [–.003, .043] |
| Breadth | –0.12 | 0.14*** | –0.02 | 0.01 | [–.035, .001] |
| Typicalityd | 0.16* | 0.13** | 0.02 | 0.01 | [.002, .048] |
| Grantednesse | 1.03*** | 0.13*** | 0.14 | 0.04 | [.055, .223] |
| Negative traits | |||||
| Controllability | 1.12*** | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.05 | [–.026, .167] |
| Verifiability | –0.15* | 0.05 | –0.01 | 0.01 | [–.025, .008] |
| Ambiguity | –0.56*** | –0.06 | 0.03 | 0.03 | [–.024, .091] |
| Breadth | –0.27*** | 0.08 | –0.02 | 0.02 | [–.055, .006] |
| Typicalityd | 0.48*** | –0.06 | –0.03 | 0.02 | [–.071, .016] |
| Grantednesse | –0.55*** | –0.18*** | 0.10 | 0.03 | [.046, .164] |
[i] Note. aIV→mediator = Coefficient of path from facet (morality, agency) to property. bMediator→DV = Coefficient of path from property to self-superiority. cBootstrap results; the path is significant if the CI excludes zero. dTypicality = Being typically human. eGrantedness = Taken-for-grantedness. *p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001.
Table 3
Moderation of Relationship between Explicit Self-Esteem and Self-Superiority by Trait Property.
| MODERATOR | R-SQUARED | ESTIMATE | SE | 95% CIa | Pb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STUDY 1 | |||||
| Positive traits | |||||
| Controllability | .001 | –0.04 | 0.10 | [–.261, .143] | .681 |
| Verifiability | .004 | 0.06 | 0.09 | [–.122, .213] | .431 |
| Feedback | .003 | –0.05 | 0.08 | [–.203, .131] | .549 |
| Ambiguity | .017 | 0.11 | 0.07 | [–.050, .236] | .121 |
| Negative traits | |||||
| Controllability | .001 | –0.01 | 0.06 | [–.143, .097] | .857 |
| Verifiability | .013 | 0.10 | 0.06 | [–.023, .232] | .183 |
| Feedback | .011 | –0.10 | 0.07 | [–.240, .050] | .207 |
| Ambiguity | .001 | 0.01 | 0.09 | [–.146, .191] | .939 |
| STUDY 2: CORRELATION WITH RSES | |||||
| Positive traits | |||||
| Controllability | .001 | 0.01 | 0.04 | [–.087, .088] | .824 |
| Verifiability | .003 | –0.05 | 0.04 | [–.143, .022] | .286 |
| Ambiguity | .001 | 0.02 | 0.05 | [–.077, .113] | .660 |
| Breadth | .006 | –0.07 | 0.05 | [–.168, .026] | .126 |
| Typicalityc | .001 | –0.04 | 0.05 | [–.149, .049] | .490 |
| Grantednessd | .001 | –0.03 | 0.04 | [–.116, .044] | .589 |
| Negative traits | |||||
| Controllability | .001 | –0.03 | 0.03 | [–.090, .047] | .499 |
| Verifiability | .013 | 0.11 | 0.05 | [.009, .208] | .029 |
| Ambiguity | .001 | –0.02 | 0.05 | [–.115, .074] | .669 |
| Breadth | .001 | –0.02 | 0.05 | [–.122, .079] | .658 |
| Typicalityc | .001 | –0.02 | 0.05 | [–.118, .081] | .750 |
| Grantednessd | .001 | –0.01 | 0.04 | [–.082, .075] | .941 |
| STUDY 2: CORRELATION WITH LSES | |||||
| Positive traits | |||||
| Controllability | .005 | –0.06 | 0.05 | [–.168, .038] | .199 |
| Verifiability | .001 | 0.01 | 0.06 | [–.109, .112] | .841 |
| Ambiguity | .002 | –0.04 | 0.05 | [–.148, .052] | .359 |
| Breadth | .001 | 0.02 | 0.05 | [–.074, .128] | .673 |
| Typicalityc | .011 | –0.11 | 0.05 | [–.214, –.019] | .046 |
| Grantednessd | .004 | –0.05 | 0.05 | [–.148, .035] | .247 |
| Negative traits | |||||
| Controllability | .014 | –0.09 | 0.04 | [–.156, –.002] | .023 |
| Verifiability | .016 | 0.12 | 0.05 | [.028, .211] | .017 |
| Ambiguity | .008 | –0.08 | 0.05 | [–.166, .006] | .091 |
| Breadth | .003 | 0.05 | 0.05 | [–.046, .133] | .324 |
| Typicalityc | .004 | –0.06 | 0.04 | [–.137, .024] | .253 |
| Grantednessd | .003 | –0.04 | 0.06 | [–.129, .086] | .337 |
[i] Note. aBootstrap results; the path is significant if the CI (Confidence interval) excludes zero, bOriginal sample results; in this analysis, the path is significant if p < .05. cTypicality = Being typically human. dGrantedness = Taken-for-grantedness.
Table 4
Methodological Differences between Studies 1 and 2.
| STUDY 1 | STUDY 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Trait properties | Controllability Verifiability Breadth Frequency of feedback | Controllability Verifiability Ambiguity/Breadth Being typically human Taken-for-grantedness |
| Trait list | Positive and negative traits are from different continua (e.g., loyal vs selfish). Two positive and two negative traits for each of the four facets. Four trait lists.a | Positive and negative traits are from same continua (e.g., loyal vs disloyal). Four positive and four negative traits for each of the four facets. Two trait lists.a |
[i] Note. aFull items lists in Supplemental Materials.
Figure 2
Moral and Agentic Self-Superiority as a Function of Self-Esteem (RSES) in Study 2.
Figure 3
Moral and Agentic Self-Superiority as a Function of Self-Esteem (LSES) in Study 2.