Speaking of Psychology Why humblebragging is never a good idea, with Övül Sezer, PhD
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Nov 5, 2025 Övül Sezer, PhD, an Assistant Professor at Cornell's S.C. Johnson School of Business, unpacks the pitfalls of humblebragging and impression mismanagement. She highlights how such tactics often come off as insincere and can hinder genuine connection. Sezer also discusses the risks of downplaying achievements, how cultural norms influence self-promotion, and the evolving standards on social media. With a dash of humor from her stand-up experience, she offers insights on effective self-presentation strategies that balance being liked and respected.
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Silence Can Hurt Relationships
- Staying silent about achievements can also backfire by offending close others who expect to be included.
- People may interpret hiding success as social miscalibration or distrust in others' reactions.
Expect Less Self-Awareness When Impressing
- When you're actively trying to impress, you become less aware of how you come across and more likely to misuse strategies.
- Recognize that impression goals reduce self-awareness and increase risky self-promotion moves.
The Multiple-Audience Problem
- Social media and overlapping audiences create a 'multiple audience' problem that makes self-presentation tricky.
- One post must navigate family, peers, bosses, and rivals simultaneously, complicating tone and content choices.