Abstract:

The better-than-average effect refers to the tendency for people to evaluate themselves more favorably than the average peer. The effect exists widely in judgment and decision making. Now two psychological mechanisms of the effect are introduced: motivational theory and nonmotivational theory. And then, we introduce influential factors of the better-than-average effect, including the attributes of evaluative dimensions, research methods, feedbacks, the knowledge of referents and cultural differences. In addition, the deficiencies existing in current research and the directions for future research are discussed.

Key words: better-than-average effect, motivational theory, egocentrism, generalized group ideas