2022/09/14 by Wojciech Kulesza, Dariusz Doliński, Paweł Muniak +4 · 1 voice
Neuroscience · Psychology · #Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion #Optimism, Hope, and Well-being #Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment
paper · doi:10.1027/1864-9335/a000495
openalex publication_date 2022/09/14 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/11
Abstract. The better-than-average effect (BTAE) is a mechanism where people perceive oneself as better than others. The BTAE could be one of the phenomena explaining why people follow – in the moment of a global health crisis – guidelines (“I am superior to others, and I [will]) take extra precautions, e.g., a vaccine shot”). In this paper, we investigate the BTAE with 3,066 respondents. In Study 1, in all countries, across two measurements in time, the BTAE was present: Participants rated their involvement in self-protection as greater in comparison to others. Study 2 replicated this effect, proving its robustness. Participants estimated their willingness to vaccinate as higher than others. The BTAE was a significant predictor of willingness to vaccinate.