The Science of Bragging and Boasting

Talking about ourselves-whether in a personal conversation or through social media sites like Facebook and Twitter-triggers the same sensation of pleasure in the brain as food or money. Robert Lee Hotz explains on Lunch Break. Photo: Diana Tamir/PNAS.

More from the Wall Street Journal:

[lauren]

I’ve been told when I was a kid that my best friend was mad at me because I always only talked about myself. I’m now 30 years old and every conversation I have I tell myself to LISTEN don’t talk about myself….it doesn’t work….and it’s happening right now 😂

[GoddestPitcher]

(FACTS OVA FEELINGS). The Strongest r Not Those Who Show Strength in Front of Us but Those Who Fight Battles Wee Know Nothing About

[JungGung]

I have no problem on other bragging, if they are telling the truth....but if they are underestimating other people, or never listen just talk and talk...thats the problem...self centered people...bragging is just opinion - you became judge to other people..telling them..defining them and branding them as bragging...or boastful....I never judge other people...I am not a judge.., ., .he he he, , ,

[flip]

Hmm when I’m with people I’m usually quiet and am not the one talking but rather listening and answering with “something about myself”

[Nerd_Gamer_Buddy]

I wonder how to help these people. For some reason these kinds of people are very attracted to me. I might have to start charging them so I can get something out of it.

[Riddhi_Ray]

I had this habit where I constantly brag dk why but abt the traumas I had...And exaggerating things and presenting it to ppl in such a way just to brag was actually making things worse for me..And I later on did suffer a lot more frm that particulqr disease I was complaining abt

[Silencio]

Whenever someone I don't like accuses me of being an a-hole and they're wrong about why they think I am I just correct them and bring up something I've done that proves it wrong, then they think I'm bragging about myself, because I was bringing up how I think I am. But I think that's different from just outright bragging about yourself.

[sonny]

I know a girl who I went to high school with back in the 1990's. I tried asking her out but she was so cold to me and treated me like a bug. She's the kind of girl who brags about anything that is average and unimportant. Now I am 40 years old and wiser, all I can do is roll on the floor and laugh very hard at what I remembered about her. The most recent thing I realized about her is that on her Facebook page she brags about how her husband works for a CEO and that made me laugh even more. I know that 85% to 90% of the people in the workforce works for a CEO from the person flipping the burgers and the person dumping the garbage to the person sitting at a desk all work for a CEO. Because I'm in the middle of buying shares in the stock market and I realize that as a shareholder of businesses, the CEO works for me. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[edwardlewis]

Instead of focusing in only on "talking about oneself" there is the obvious question of talking about something one knows about as opposed to being asked to talk about some dubious topic - the example of Obama was brought up a couple times.
It is not surprising that people are more inclined to talk about what they actually know about, and so talking about oneself is just one example of that.

[jao]

So much so, he doesn't let her talk...

[NoName-zznl]

I earned the right at work to brag since I can do a whole workload myself

[persephoneharrison]

James 4:16-17 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

[jonathanwalton]

I have a friend do is bragging everyday

[jonathanwalton]

And he think he better than me and stronger than me

[alanastone]

You did not brag about how many PhDs you have.

[TM-yruq]

I think our president now, is the one who LOVES talking about himself. Obama is a kind man and seems concerned for others. Why, speak badly about Obama?? Why not mentioned the one person who loves talking about themselves. He lives in a very big white house.

[chrisalejado]

So...where's the science in this? Lol

[harsh]

Why brain feels rewarded?
Any history of evolution?