Psychology -> Self Perception -> Self-Evaluation
Gilovich, T., Kruger, J. & Husted Medvec, V. (2002) The spotlight effect revisited: Overestimating the manifest variability of our actions and appearance. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 38, 93-99
Abstract: Three studies examined people's estimates of the perceived variability of their appearance and behavior in the eyes of others. Whether assessing the manifest variability of their physical appearance (Studies 1a, 1b, and 1c), their athletic accomplishments (Study 2), or their performance on a popular video game (Study 3), participants consistently overestimated the extend to which their ups and downs would be noted by observers. The results of Study 3 suggest that this bias stems in part from a failure to appreciate the extent to which observers are preoccupied with managing their own actions. Discussion focuses on how this corollary of the "spotlight effect" can contribute to social anxiety and gnawing regrets of inaction.
Summary of main points: First and foremost - this really seems like something more autistic or narcissistic than anything. The idea "if I seem so bad today to myself, everyone else must be noticing it too" is somewhat self-centered. Another question - how does this relate to the "self-monitor" scale? Do people, who are low self-monitors, do better at this understanding of how others percieve them?
The study actually is concerned with behaviors that are routine, suggesting that individuals monitor deviations from the perceived typical level of performance, while the observers focus on constancies of performance rather than deviations from it. Observers have to assess the ability level of the actor, while the actor has a clear understanding of their own ability level. Thus the observer goes through the process of averaging observed performance to find constancy as a way of understanding the "norm" level and the "potential" while the actor already knows that, so they focus on deviations. In other words - the actor focuses on what was done differently while the observer focuses on what was done.
"Spotlight effect definition - the tendency for people to believe that their actions and appearance are more likely to be noticed, judged, and remembered by others than is actually the case. "this pretty much rings true of everyone who was terrified to face their friends after a particularily embarassing moment, only to discover that your friends either did not notice or have already forgotten about it.
The authors claim that the spotlight effect may result from an anchoring and adjustment process (in part). Generally, our own actions and behaviors and appearance are in the foreground for us. Of course, we understand that and attempt to account for the fact that other people are probably not paying as much attention to us as we do ourselves (they are busy paying attention to themselves!) Gilovich and colleagues claim that we do try to adjust for this fact, but, as adjustments tend to be, this one is insufficient. (well at least this is better than the risk adjustments in behavioral economics, where not only are we mostly wrong, but also tend to loose money). So if adjustements are not quite right, can we sometimes over-adjust instead of under-adjusting? The article doesn't deal with this quesiton although I think it's a relevant follow up and the article is presenting only half of the picture, albeit a very interesting half.
In summary, the study suggests that people in general are much less conspicuous than they think they are. In fact, not only do people overestimate the obviousness of their actions or appearance, but they also overestimate the obviousness of the variability of their actions/appearance over time.
Relevance: haven't figured it out, but it does relate to a lot of Goffman's writings on presentation of self.
Abstract: Three studies examined people's estimates of the perceived variability of their appearance and behavior in the eyes of others. Whether assessing the manifest variability of their physical appearance (Studies 1a, 1b, and 1c), their athletic accomplishments (Study 2), or their performance on a popular video game (Study 3), participants consistently overestimated the extend to which their ups and downs would be noted by observers. The results of Study 3 suggest that this bias stems in part from a failure to appreciate the extent to which observers are preoccupied with managing their own actions. Discussion focuses on how this corollary of the "spotlight effect" can contribute to social anxiety and gnawing regrets of inaction.
Summary of main points: First and foremost - this really seems like something more autistic or narcissistic than anything. The idea "if I seem so bad today to myself, everyone else must be noticing it too" is somewhat self-centered. Another question - how does this relate to the "self-monitor" scale? Do people, who are low self-monitors, do better at this understanding of how others percieve them?
The study actually is concerned with behaviors that are routine, suggesting that individuals monitor deviations from the perceived typical level of performance, while the observers focus on constancies of performance rather than deviations from it. Observers have to assess the ability level of the actor, while the actor has a clear understanding of their own ability level. Thus the observer goes through the process of averaging observed performance to find constancy as a way of understanding the "norm" level and the "potential" while the actor already knows that, so they focus on deviations. In other words - the actor focuses on what was done differently while the observer focuses on what was done.
"Spotlight effect definition - the tendency for people to believe that their actions and appearance are more likely to be noticed, judged, and remembered by others than is actually the case. "this pretty much rings true of everyone who was terrified to face their friends after a particularily embarassing moment, only to discover that your friends either did not notice or have already forgotten about it.
The authors claim that the spotlight effect may result from an anchoring and adjustment process (in part). Generally, our own actions and behaviors and appearance are in the foreground for us. Of course, we understand that and attempt to account for the fact that other people are probably not paying as much attention to us as we do ourselves (they are busy paying attention to themselves!) Gilovich and colleagues claim that we do try to adjust for this fact, but, as adjustments tend to be, this one is insufficient. (well at least this is better than the risk adjustments in behavioral economics, where not only are we mostly wrong, but also tend to loose money). So if adjustements are not quite right, can we sometimes over-adjust instead of under-adjusting? The article doesn't deal with this quesiton although I think it's a relevant follow up and the article is presenting only half of the picture, albeit a very interesting half.
In summary, the study suggests that people in general are much less conspicuous than they think they are. In fact, not only do people overestimate the obviousness of their actions or appearance, but they also overestimate the obviousness of the variability of their actions/appearance over time.
Relevance: haven't figured it out, but it does relate to a lot of Goffman's writings on presentation of self.
posted by Q at 01:51
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