How Do I See You? Partner-Enhancement in Dating Couples

Individuals self-enhance or rate themselves more positively than they rate either strangers or acquaintances. Within ongoing relationships, self-enhancement may be detrimental to the relationship. Three studies examined partner-enhancement, rating a dating partner more positively than the self. Study 1 found partner-enhancement relative to the self on moderate relationship-relevant traits (e.g., loving, selfish) and to the average student on all traits. Individuals also self-enhanced on all traits relative to the average student. Study 2, a dyad study, found partner-enhancement on moderate but not low (e.g., reserved, intelligent) relationship-relevant traits and idealization (rating the partner more positively than the partner self-rates) by men but not women. In Study 3, when primed with high, but not low, relationship quality, people partner-enhanced on the moderate relevant traits. These findings suggest that individuals can strategically self-and partner enhance in their dating relationships.