Focused on how we think about the self, compared to close and non-close others--specifically the similarities among their cognitive representations. Participants rated traits for themselves, close others (e.g. romantic partner), and less close others (e.g. celebrities), followed by a source recognition task (who was each trait rated for?).

Confusions of Self With Others

Pertains to how we include other's trait knowledge in construction of our own traits and personality

Alma College

Relates to how we use traits to describe others

Traits and Personality/Person Descriptions

Mashek, D. J., Aron, A., & Boncimino, M. (2003). Confusions of self with close others. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 29(3), 382-392.

Confusions of Self with Close Others

Relates to how we use traits to describe people we like and don't like

Traits for Liked and Disliked Others

Inclusion of Other's in Self Trait Descriptions

Investigated how ratings of importance, social desirability, observability, stateness versus traitness, level of abstraction, and base rate are associated with one another and usage. Participants were asked to provide terms that described individuals they knew.

Terms Used to Describe Personality

Individuals will feel most authentic when acting in accordance with their traits.

Trait-consistency Hypothesis of Authenticity

Individuals would feel more authentic when they act in accordance with certain traits, such as extraversion and  agreeableness, regardless of the actor’s corresponding traits. 

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