Abstract: Self-enhancement by motivating to pursue a positive self-image has received much attention across different disciplines of psychology. Evolutionary psychologists believe that self-enhancement has evolved as an adaptation for complex human social interactions. However, social psychologists have more mixed views about the psychological functions of self-enhancement. These are shown in three leading social psychological explanations, including interference of moderators theory, the ecological analog theory, and multidimensional and multifunctional model of self-criticism and self-enhancement. Clinical and counseling psychologists have also proposed ways to promote adaptive self-enhancement in psychotherapy by taking advantage of the pros and avoiding the cons of self-enhancement. These different self-enhancement theories and practices are reviewed with suggestions for further research especially in cross-cultural and developmental psychology.

Key words: self-enhancement, adaption, self-motive, evolutionary psychology, clinical application