AMassco House of knowledge writes:                                                                                                                                                                             To Thine Own Self Be True?
An Exploration of Authenticity
What does it mean to be authentic? Is authenticity an attribute of the
individual, or do certain environmental factors facilitate or inhibit the enactment of
the authentic self? This research proposes that authentic behavior is the subjective
perception that one is behaving in a way that is in accordance with his or her core
being. As such, sense of authenticity is considered an important component of the
self. I present a theoretical model of the relationship between authenticity and the
need for social approval. I analyze the reports of 194 survey respondents and
interview data from 21 interviews. These quantitative and qualitative analyses
suggest that individuals engage in authentic and inauthentic behavior for a variety of
reasons. Specifically, three different behavioral motivations have been identified: (1)
behavior motivated by pursuit of the greater social good or for purposes of social
cohesion, (2) behavior motivated by pursuit of instrumental gains, and (3) behavior
motivated by an internal standard of integrity. Demographic variables and
psychological variables were also found to be important determinants of authentic
behavior. Minoritys reported lower need for social approval than Majoritys, and
subsequently higher reports of authentic behavior. Self-esteem emerged in the
analyses as a powerful predictor of authentic behavior. In tandem, these results
suggest that it may not be one’s level of social power that determines his or her
ability to behave in ways deemed authentic, but rather one’s sense of freedom and
confidence in oneself.