18 checked facts

Identity

Everything on this site about identity — each one naming the study behind it.

You remember information best when it relates to you.
The self-reference effect demonstrates that humans have superior recall for information processed in relation to their…
You believe you are more unique than you are.
The false uniqueness effect leads you to overestimate how rare your own positive traits and abilities actually are.…
You think your personal memories are objectively accurate.
Source monitoring errors lead you to misattribute the origin of your memories.…
You prefer being accurately judged over being falsely praised.
Self-verification theory suggests that people seek feedback that confirms their own existing self-concept.…
You claim success for a team you barely know.
Basking in reflected glory (BIRGing) is the tendency to align with successful groups to bolster self-esteem or social …
You feel an ownership for groups you did not join.
Basking in reflected glory is the tendency to associate yourself with successful groups or individuals to bolster your…
You unconsciously prefer items that share your own initials.
In a 2002 study, researchers proposed that people are disproportionately likely to live in cities or pursue careers th…
You wrongly believe you have reached your final self.
The 'end of history illusion' is the psychological finding that people view their current self as the definitive versi…
Most of your core identity formed in late adolescence.
The 'reminiscence bump' is the tendency for older adults to have increased recollection of events from their teenage y…
One new purchase triggers a cycle of constant upgrades.
The Diderot effect describes how a single acquisition often leads to a spiral of consumption.…
You are a member of a group just by existing.
A 1970 study showed that people favored others simply because they were assigned to the same arbitrary group, even whe…
You adapt your behavior to fit what others expect.
A 1974 study found that high self-monitors consistently changed their behavior to match the social situation, whereas …
You seek out people who confirm your negative traits.
A 1983 study showed that people preferred feedback that aligned with their existing self-conception.…
You change your attitude to match your behavior.
Self-perception theory suggests that when your internal beliefs are unclear, you infer them by observing your own past…
You claim credit for things you did not do.
A 1976 study found students were significantly more likely to wear school apparel after their team won a game.…
You believe you have finally finished changing your personality.
In a 2013 study of 7,500 adults, participants consistently underestimated how much their personality, values, and pref…
You take the credit and blame the world.
A 1975 study by Miller and Ross examined the self-serving bias, questioning whether the attribution of success to inte…
You subconsciously prefer the letters in your own name.
While Pelham et al. (2002) published findings suggesting implicit egotism, those results have been widely criticized f…