The Privilege to be Yourself Depends on What Others Think of You: Social Status Increases Authenticity

Abstract

Authenticity is associated with numerous benefits, including well-being, relationship satisfaction, and workplace engagement, sparking interest in its antecedents. Previous research has primarily concentrated on intraindividual factors like self-knowledge, self-awareness, and self-esteem. Complementing this perspective, we suggest that interpersonal factors also influence authenticity. Specifically, we propose that social status, defined as the respect and admiration received from others, enhances authenticity. Study 1 confirmed that higher status correlated with authentic self-expression in 1,656 naturalistic conversations between strangers. Subsequent studies found that the positive link between status and authenticity (Study 2; N = 980) occurs, in part, through social acceptance (Studies 3–4; N = 1,372). Two additional experiments (Study 5a–b; N = 1,764) manipulated status and compared its causal impact on authenticity to power, another key aspect of social hierarchy, and a recognized antecedent of authenticity. Collectively, our findings support a social perspective in understanding authenticity: individuals feel more like themselves when they are respected and admired by others.