Understanding self-serving bias in psychology

Self-serving bias is a form of cognitive bias that can have impacts on self-esteem, self-perception, and interpersonal relationships. Because these effects can have the potential to be either positive or negative, it may be helpful to examine this psychological phenomenon in more detail to better understand where it originates and how it can influence behavior. In this article, we’ll explore what self-serving bias is, how it can manifest, its possible causes, and more. 

What is self-serving bias?

Self-serving attributional bias, also known as self-serving bias, refers to a tendency to perceive one’s own mistakes and accomplishments in a way that casts oneself in a more favorable light. In psychology, self-serving bias occurs when a person attributes their successes, victories, and other positive events to their own hard work and abilities while blaming external factors for negative outcomes and failures. 

For example, if a person gets a promotion at work, they might credit their personal characteristics—such as work ethic, innate intelligence, or talent—for their success. On the other hand, if they are passed over for the promotion, they might blame outside factors, such as the promotion process, the company hierarchy, or their manager’s decision-making. These are both examples of how self-serving attributions can influence one’s perception of events.

Self-serving bias in groups

Self-serving bias is not necessarily limited to individuals. In fact, it may also be present among larger groups of people. For example, nationalistic self-serving biases might occur when people attribute large-scale successes to traits unique to their country, yet blame other countries for large-scale failures. 

Self-serving bias can also manifest in workplace settings, where individual and group performance may be given different weight depending on the outcome. For example, if a group project goes well, individual group members might be more inclined to take responsibility for the success. They might also be more likely to blame other group members if the same project doesn’t succeed. 

What causes self-serving bias?

Various studies have been performed to determine whether factors such as culture, gender, and age are correlated with self-serving biases. Human communication research and psychological research are ever-evolving, so it can be difficult to pinpoint the major contributors to self-serving bias. However, two psychological factors may be tied to self-serving bias: self-presentation and self-enhancement. 

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), self-presentation refers to "any behaviors intended to convey a particular image of, or particular information about, the self to other people.” In other words, it refers to behaviors and actions intended to influence other people’s opinions of oneself. 

Meanwhile, the APA defines self-enhancement as “any strategic behavior designed to increase either self-esteem or the esteem of others.” 

The possible benefits of self-serving bias

Although self-serving bias is a form of cognitive bias, it may not necessarily be a negative thing in all cases. Depending on the person and situation, self-serving bias may have a range of potential benefits, which can include:

• Enhanced self-image or self-esteem
• Protection from the potential negative effects of mistakes or setbacks
• Pride in oneself and one's successes

The possible downsides of self-serving bias

Because self-serving bias may influence the way we see ourselves and others, it might also present several potential pitfalls. These may include:

• A skewed view of one’s abilities or accomplishments
• A reduced ability to learn from one’s mistakes
• An increased risk of conflict in work, life, or relationships

Managing self-serving bias through therapy

No two people are exactly alike, so the degree to which self-serving biases can positively or negatively affect a person’s life can vary from person to person. Some individuals may find that the potential downsides of self-serving bias outweigh its potential benefits. Thus, they may look for strategies to better manage it. 

Therapy is one strategy that may be valuable for managing self-serving bias at home and at work. A licensed mental health professional may be able to provide a more objective view of one’s relationships and strengths, offer suggestions for noticing bias when it occurs, and provide strategies for practicing self-compassion in the face of setbacks. These techniques may be helpful for reducing the negative impacts of self-serving bias. 

However, in-person therapy may not always be a feasible option, particularly for those with busy schedules that make commuting to a therapist’s office difficult. Also, those who are working to manage self-serving bias in their daily lives may find that they need additional support, feedback, and advice outside of their scheduled therapy sessions. In these situations, online therapy through platforms like BetterHelp may present a viable alternative. With remote therapy, you can attend sessions from home or anywhere with an internet connection. You can also contact your therapist 24/7 through in-app messaging, and they’ll respond as soon as they can. This may prove helpful if you want to ask your therapist about possible manifestations of bias in between sessions.

Online therapy has been identified as an effective alternative to in-person therapy for treating a variety of mental health concerns. For example, a 2017 study found that online therapy can be effective for several mental illnesses, including depression, generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).