SELF-PRESENTATIONAL RESPONSES TO SUCCESS IN THE ORGANIZATION - THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF MODESTY

The effectiveness of modesty as a self-presentational tactic in the or ganization was expected to be influenced by both the gender of the sel f-presenter and the characteristics of the evaluator. Participants rea d about a successful employee who responded to a recent achievement us ing either a low, moderate, or highly modest presentational strategy. Although boastful presenters were always least effective, the effectiv eness of moderate and highly modest presenters depended on two additio nal factors. Highly modest self-presenters were favored over moderate ones when the self-presenter was female, and when the evaluators were co-workers. Alternatively, moderate modesty was favored over high mode sty when the self-presenter was male, or when the evaluator was a mana ger.