Four experiments explored how belief in a true self influences decision conflict and authentic preferences.
Key Points
Attributions about others' authentic preferences vary greatly depending on normative contexts, which aligns with decision conflict theories.
Results from experiments with 3,399 adults indicated a correlation between belief in a good true self and consistent judgment patterns about authenticity.
Manipulating perceptions of a target's true self significantly affected participants' evaluations of their authentic preferences.
Integrating lay theories of identity into our understanding of decision-making can improve insights into social judgments and predictions.