| Abstract: | Although modesty and supplication are both self-effacing impression management behaviors for underplaying one’s strengths, they are likely to result in different supervisory perceptions. In an examination of the effects of modesty and supplication in the same working sample, the results from a Chinese sample of supervisor–subordinate dyads (n = 88) showed that while modesty is positively related to supervisor perceptions of a subordinate’s Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, supplication is negatively related to supervisory perceptions of Agreeableness. In addition, supervisors differentially weigh supplication and modesty when assessing Agreeableness versus Conscientiousness. Results from this study suggest that subordinates may use modesty to strive for a positive impression, but they should be cautious about adopting supplication as an impression management tactic. |
