Basking in Reflected Glory

Individuals have a plethora of strategies to maintain a positive self-image. These strategies may be direct, such as the announcement of personal accomplishments, or indirect, such as the display of an association with another's accomplishments. For example, just as an athlete may boast after a hard-won match, so too can their fans and supporters as they chant, “We're number one!” Whereas the former represents a direct strategy to enhance the self, the latter represents an indirect strategy in which the individual attempts to make ...