POSITIVE ILLUSION IN CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS

The literature regarding self-other comparisons suggests that self-enh ancing perceptions are prevalent, including forms of ''illusion'' such as excessively positive self-evaluation, unrealistic optimism, and ex aggerated perceptions of control. Concepts from optimal distinctivenes s theory served as the basis for two experiments examining whether ill usion functions similarly when the context of evaluation involves a re lationship. In both experiments participants rated themselves, the bes t friend, and the average other-or their own romantic relationships, t he best friend's relationship, and the relationship of the average oth er-using scales measuring positivity of evaluation, optimism regarding the future, and perceptions of control. In both experiments, particip ants exhibited centrality-based differentiation, rating targets more f avorably to the degree that the target was more central to their socia l identity.Patterns of differentiation differed for the two contexts: In the individual context, participants differentiated themselves and their friends from the average other. In the relationship context, par ticipants differentiated their own relationships from the relationship s of friends and average others. Also, participants rated individuals as more controllable than relationships. Participants in Experiment 2 provided information regarding potential predictors of illusion. Analy ses of these data suggest that favorable centrality-based differentiat ion may be partially accounted for by impression management, global se lf-esteem (particularly in the individual context), and commitment lev el (particularly in the relationship context).