Self-bolstering

Self-bolstering describes the act of enhancing or improving one's own confidence, self-esteem, or position, often through exaggerated self-praise, selective focus on positive attributes, or downplaying of negative aspects. It is a psychological mechanism that aims to protect the ego and maintain a favorable self-image. The practice frequently involves rationalization and biased interpretations of events to reinforce a belief in one's abilities or worth, potentially leading to an inflated sense of self and unrealistic assessments. It’s a form of self-protection that can vary in intensity from mild to extreme. Often employed during periods of vulnerability.

Self-bolstering meaning with examples

• After a minor setback, the politician engaged in self-bolstering, highlighting only successful initiatives in his speech and conveniently omitting any failures to reassure voters and maintain his perceived competence. The campaign used positive advertising to showcase his achievements, bolstering his image and contrasting it with his opponents.
• Faced with criticism, the author's self-bolstering response was to dismiss the reviews as 'biased' and to loudly promote his work on social media, focusing only on positive feedback from friends and loyal fans while ignoring any constructive criticism.
• The athlete engaged in self-bolstering before the competition, repeating affirmations and visualizing success scenarios. This allowed them to enter the arena with a reinforced sense of confidence and motivation, boosting their performance and potentially impacting their overall success.
• The manager, insecure about his leadership, practiced self-bolstering by frequently reminding his team of his accomplishments and by taking credit for their collaborative efforts, reinforcing his status within the group.
• The student, after a disappointing grade, found himself engaged in self-bolstering, blaming the professor's unfair grading and focusing on other courses where they excelled. This protected his self-worth but failed to improve areas needing development.