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Theory and research indicate upward comparisons can negatively influence self-evaluation and that people actively employ various protective strategies to mitigate the effect of such comparisons. This study examined whether people experiencing threatening comparisons dissemble personal information as a self-presentation strategy to portray a positive outward image. It was hypothesized that upward comparisons influence participants' self-image and consequently the frequency of untruthful statements they employ as part of their self-presentation efforts. Specifically, participants received feedback that they did better (or worse) than another individual and were led to believe this individual would evaluate them based on questionnaire responses. In support of the hypotheses, results indicated that the frequency of deceptions significantly increased and self-esteem and mood decreased when participants encountered threatening comparison information. Findings also showed that the relationship between upward comparison situations and the use of untruthful information as a self-presentation strategy was partially mediated by state self-esteem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of self-presentation goals on the amount and type of verbal deception used by participants in same-gender and mixed-gender dyads. Participants were asked to engage in a conversation that was secretly videotaped. Self-presentational goal was manipulated, where one member of the dyad (the self-presenter) was told to either appear (a) likable, (b) competent, or (c) was told to simply get to know his or her partner (control condition). After the conversation, self-presenters were asked to review a video recording of the interaction and identify the instances in which they had deceived the other person. Overall, participants told more lies when they had a goal to appear likable or competent compared to participants in the control condition, and the content of the lies varied according to self-presentation goal. In addition, lies told by men and women differed in content, although not in quantity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined how particular interpersonal goals relate to the expression of emotions during social interaction for people particularly high and low in self-monitoring needs. Before interacting with a partner, participants were assigned a goal of either self-promotion (appearing competent), ingratiation (appearing likable), or were assigned no specific goal. Naive judges viewed 15-sec segments of these interactions and rated participants regarding the emotions displayed. Results indicate that displays of positive and negative emotion are differentially affected by an individual's self-monitoring status, self-presentational goal, and gender. Overall, high self-monitors and women expressed less negative emotion and more positive emotion than low self-monitors and men. Furthermore, although women showed little variability in their displays of negative emotion due to goal, men's displays of negative emotion were affected by self-presentational goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents applied social psychology research into the role that television broadcasting plays in the socialization of nonverbal communication skills among school-aged child television viewers. Children who watched television frequently expressed emotions such as happiness and sadness that are common on television programs, better than emotions which are uncommon, such as surprise, fear, and disgust. Frequent viewers demonstrate a failure to engage in self-regulation of their nonverbal expressions.