Designs That Let us Boast but NOT Seem Boastful
Many people get considerable mental energy from boasting but don’t want to seem boastful. The question for the cognitive designer is how can we create experiences that give client’s the mental lift of boasting without the downside of appearing too self promoting? There is no easy way, but the literature provides some guidance:
1. Have the person who is hearing the boast prompt the telling of it with a question. This effect indicates “self promotion in response to a question is perceived more positively”.
2. Have a third-party, especially one that is neutral, do the boasting. This effect indicates that you are less likely to seem boastful if someone else sings your praises. For some, such reputational effects are even more psychological pleasurable (mental energy) than direct telling.
The question and third-party effects give hints on how to keep a positive valence to the mental energy/emotion that comes from boasting.
