Self and social judgment; social cognition; judgment and decision
making; overconfidence; motivation; naive realism; implicit theories;
maximizing.
Current Research
My research examines the processes that underlie judgments about the
self. I approach this task from two basic perspectives. First, I take
a top-down perspective by examining how systems of belief shape our
views about the self with a particular focus on beliefs regarding our
competencies, the objectivity of our perceptions, and the malleability
of our traits and abilities.
I also explore self-judgments from a bottom-up perspective and examine
factors that leave people without the information necessary to make
accurate judgments about the self. Specifically, I explore how
limitations of competence and social feedback contribute to
overconfident self-views. My research extends to the relationship
between judgments, motivation, and goal-directed behavior. For
more information, visit the Ehrlinger Lab website.
Publications
Selected Publications
An asterisk (*) is used to denote current or former graduate student co-authors.
Conlon*, K.E., Ehrlinger, J., Eibach, R.P., Crescioni*, A.W., Alquist*, J.L., Gerend, M.A., & Dutton, G.R. (2011) Keeping one’s eyes on the prize: The longitudinal benefits of accomplishment focus on progress toward a weight loss goal. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 47, 853-855. [pdf]
Ehrlinger J. & Dunning, D.A. (2003). How chronic self-views influence (and mislead) estimates of performance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 5-17. [pdf]
Ehrlinger, J. & Eibach, R.P (2011) How focalism contributes to the failure to anticipate unintended consequences. Basic and Applied Social Psychology. 33, 59-68. [pdf]
Ehrlinger J., Gilovich, T.D., & Ross, L. (2005). Peering into the bias blind spot: People’s assessments of bias in themselves and others. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. [pdf]
Ehrlinger, J., Johnson, K.L., Banner*, M., Dunning, D.A., & Kruger, J. (2008). Why the unskilled are unaware: Further explorations of (absent) self-insight among the incompetent. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 105, 98-121. [pdf]
Sparks*, E.A., Ehrlinger, J., & Eibach, R.P. (2011). Failing to commit: Maximizers avoid commitment in a way that contributes to reduced satisfaction. Personality and Individual Differences, 52, 72-77. [pdf]
