The ways in which people's values, beliefs, emotional states, and behavior preferences influence their perceptions of others is one of the most actively researched areas in the psychology of the self. However, The Self in Social Judgment is the first volume to integrate this diverse research into a single presentation that identifies common themes and problems.
The volume begins with a historical overview of the self in social judgment and outlines the major issues. Subsequent chapters, all written by leading experts in their respective areas, identify and elaborate four major themes regarding the self in social judgment:
- the role of the self as an information source for evaluating others, or what has been called 'social projection'
- the assumption of personal superiority as reflected in the pervasive tendency for people to view their characteristics more favorably than those of others
- the role of the self as a comparison standard from or toward which other people's behaviors and attributes are assimilated or contrasted
- the relative weight people place on the individual and collective selves in defining their attributes and comparing them to those of other people
A concluding chapter summarizes the various approaches and identifies important avenues for future research.
The Self in Social Judgment is essential reading for senior undergraduate and graduate courses on the self, and an invaluable resource for researchers and professionals interested in the relationship between the self and judgment of others.

The volume begins with a historical overview of the self in social judgment and outlines the major issues. Subsequent chapters, all written by leading experts in their respective areas, identify and elaborate four major themes regarding the self in social judgment: * the role of the self as an information source for evaluating others, or what has been called 'social projection' * the assumption of personal superiority as reflected in the pervasive tendency for people to view their characteristics more favorably than those of others * the role of the self as a comparison standard from or toward which other people's behaviors and attributes are assimilated or contrasted * the relative weight people place on the individual and collective selves in defining their attributes and comparing them to those of other people

This is the first major volume dedicated to the processes by which people exaggerate their virtues, deemphasize their shortcomings, or protect themselves against threatening feedback. Leading investigators present cutting-edge work on the key role of self-enhancing and self-protective motives in social perception, cognition, judgment, and behavior. Compelling topics include the psychological benefits and risks of self-enhancement and self-protection; personality traits and contextual factors that make certain individuals more likely to hold distorted views of the self; innovative approaches to assessment and measurement; and implications for relationships, achievement, and mental health. The book will be important reading for social and personality psychologists and graduate students; also of interest to developmental and clinical psychologists. It may also serve as a supplemental text in graduate-level courses.