| dc.description.abstract | In modern Western society, there is greater flexibility than ever before for humans to choose how to live and express themselves, and we are increasingly connected by social media platforms on which we present carefully curated versions of ourselves. In this context, it has become increasingly important to not just be authentic but to seem authentic to others. Yet, relatively little is known about what predicts perceptions of another person’s authentic. Across three studies, I tested three sets of hypotheses regarding the interplay between honesty, morality, and liking, and the effects of these factors on perceived authenticity. Results suggested that honesty and likability both exert causal influences on perceptions of authenticity, in line with predictions. There was at best limited evidence that these factors may interact to predict authenticity, such that honesty has a greater influence on authenticity for people we like compared to dislike. However, this research seems to suggest that meta-assumptions about the morality of a target’s intentions can be used to explain the effect of likability on authenticity. Furthermore, results revealed a significant indirect effect of the combined factors on perceived authenticity via perceived morality. These results lend support to a growing body of evidence suggesting the importance of morality for judgments of authenticity. Finally, while lay conceptions might suggest that in order to harness this perception one should be honest, this work suggests that other considerations, such as how well-liked we are, may also shape whether one is perceived as authentic. | en |
