Which of the following is an example of socially desirable responding?

Which of the following is an example of socially desirable responding?

• A. Modifying responses to appear more socially acceptable.
• B. Answering all items with extreme honesty.
• C. Randomly selecting answers.
• D. Leaving items blank when uncertain.

Answer: (A)

Socially desirable responding is when people adjust their answers to look better to others or to fit social norms, rather than to reveal their true thoughts or behaviors. The described example—modifying responses to appear more socially acceptable—fits this pattern exactly, because it shows someone tailoring their report to gain social approval rather than reporting honestly. Think of it as a way people try to present themselves in the best light. That’s different from answering with extreme honesty, which would reflect genuine self-disclosure; from randomly selecting answers, which shows no bias toward how others would judge you; or from leaving items blank, which signals avoidance or lack of data rather than impression management.

Socially desirable responding is when people adjust their answers to look better to others or to fit social norms, rather than to reveal their true thoughts or behaviors. The described example—modifying responses to appear more socially acceptable—fits this pattern exactly, because it shows someone tailoring their report to gain social approval rather than reporting honestly.

Think of it as a way people try to present themselves in the best light. That’s different from answering with extreme honesty, which would reflect genuine self-disclosure; from randomly selecting answers, which shows no bias toward how others would judge you; or from leaving items blank, which signals avoidance or lack of data rather than impression management.