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An example sentence might read something like:

Tom was a [unbiased self judge] and thusly suitable for the task.

or

Barbara's [lack of bias in self judgement] convinced her the pink elephants were in fact real.

etc.

I tried all the tricks I know to get an answer from Google's Search, but to no avail. And not that it's really worth a damn, I have a gut feeling there should be a word that fits the bill.

The subject could be described as possessing this attribute, and perhaps also as being one of these.

Any suggestions, or edits to improve this question will be as appreciated as any answers. Thanks.

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  • 1
    Would candor or sincerity fit?
    – user66974
    Commented Jul 27, 2015 at 13:22
  • 2
    I think that Tom and Barabara are very different. Tom presumably has integrity and a realistic grasp of the situation whereas Barabara seems to be deluded - presumably she wouldn't be 'suitable for the task'. Could you pin it down a bit more? Thanks.
    – chasly - supports Monica
    Commented Jul 27, 2015 at 13:25
  • 4
    There is no word for it because there is no such thing.
    – RegDwigнt
    Commented Jul 27, 2015 at 13:33
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    In psychology, to the best of my knowledge, it would be described as a realistic self-concept or an unbiased self-concept. The alternatives have terms like self-enhancement bias, negative self-concept, etc. Though my experience in this area is limited, it was something I studied formally, so I hope it's not just my self-enhancement bias saying: If I don't know of such a word, their probably ain't one.
    – Jim Reynolds
    Commented Jul 27, 2015 at 13:45
  • 2
    @JimReynolds -- The problem is that it's so rare -- only you and I exhibit this characteristic -- that there's been no real need to name it.
    – Hot Licks
    Commented Jul 27, 2015 at 14:35

6 Answers 6

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The adjective objective and the noun objectivity are close fits, but may not be exact fits for what you're after.

The second definition on dictionary.com for objective as an adjective is:

not influenced by personal feelings, interpretations, or prejudice; based on facts; unbiased:

This would give:

Tom was objective and, thus, suitable for the task.

You would probably want to go a little farther than that.

Tom had a reputation for being objective and was thus suitable for the task.

The second sentence seems to be asking something else and it might help to clarify. First, we'll put the word in there...

Barbara's objectivity convinced her the pink elephants were in fact real.

Maybe this would work...

Barbara's objective perception of reality and hallucination convinced her that the pink elephants were in fact real.

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  • If the object of the objectivity was clearly the "self" of the person with it, this would be pretty much perfect. But e.g. It's not clear in what regard Tom is objective. It could be about something else. It's specifically that he is objective about himself that I'm after. Any thoughts?
    – Fred Gandt
    Commented Jul 27, 2015 at 14:09
  • 1
    Objective has that sense as well. One connotation of objective is being able to look at oneself objectively, to weigh the evidence presented without bias and determine if it is credible.
    – Paul Rowe
    Commented Jul 27, 2015 at 14:11
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"Disinterestedness" has the sense of a general lack of selfish motives.

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  • I rather like this understated dark horse. It serves pretty much exactly to disambiguate "objective" and "impartial". Nice one :-)
    – Fred Gandt
    Commented Jul 27, 2015 at 18:18
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I venture that something like

unbiased self-concept

or replacing unbiased with realistic or impartial, is about as close as we may get to an answer.

If I'm proved wrong with a precise single word that means prdcisely this and only this, I'll at least pretend to be delighted.

Psychologists--especially social and clinical psychologists--have recognized that most people display the "self-enhancement bias" by work of which about 80+% of people rate themselves as being higher than average on most socially valued characteristics. Some argue that it is usually or often healthy or adaptive for us to see ourselves as "better" than we actually are. Others think that those of us who see each other more realistically have the adasntage.

Of course, there are also people who have negative self-concepts, which is generally associated with depression and anxiety problems.

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I believe nonpartizan will be a right word here to use.

Tom was a nonpartizan and thus suitable for the task

and

Barbara's nonpartisan nature convinced herself that the pink elephants were in fact real.

UPDATED : I misread Barbara's nature. Nonpartisan is an Adjective a quality while Nonpartizan is noun that means a person.

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    But Barabara is also non-biased (lacks bias) according to the question.
    – chasly - supports Monica
    Commented Jul 27, 2015 at 13:34
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    That has too specific a meaning for what the OP is requesting. You can't be nonpartisan about yourself unless you have Multiple Personality Disorder.
    – Robusto
    Commented Jul 27, 2015 at 13:36
  • @chaslyfromUK Oh thanks! I just didn't notice that, Updated the answer!
    – sud007
    Commented Jul 27, 2015 at 13:43
  • I'm finding "...zan" to be nothing more than an alternative spelling for "...san". Although I like the word, I have to agree with @Robusto - the word seems best used to refer to another subject, not one's self. A link to a reliable source defining "...zan" would be appreciated.
    – Fred Gandt
    Commented Jul 27, 2015 at 13:58
  • @FredGandt here you can find the meaning and examples as well. I believe as far as I can dig, one can be nonpartisan for a situation and that might involve 'yourself' as well! and in this article you can fins the usage of the word that means ** to be partisan**
    – sud007
    Commented Jul 27, 2015 at 14:11
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Perhaps self-aware. Oxford Dictionaries Online defines self-awareness as

Conscious knowledge of one’s own character, feelings, motives, and desires: the process can be painful but it leads to greater self-awareness

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    A problem is that developmental psychologists use the term to denote the emergence of an ability for toddlers to develop an awareness that we are objects distinct from others and our environment. Lewis M, Brooks-Gunn J. Social cognition and the acquisition of self. NY: Plenum; 1979.
    – Jim Reynolds
    Commented Jul 27, 2015 at 16:48
  • I think it's fine unless you're working in child development. Lots of words have obscure technical senses we usually ignore.
    – Stuart F
    Commented Oct 15, 2022 at 18:04
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Enlightened, or enlightened being, is the term for one who has no, or almost no, judgement.

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  • Someone who has almost no judgement is the opposite of enlightened. I think you mean to say something else, but you should also include an explanation and reference.
    – Stuart F
    Commented Oct 19, 2022 at 13:33
  • No, I do not mean to say the opposite of what I have said. I mean to say what I have said. Judgement, the habit of describing things as 'good: or 'bad' is the enemy of higher consciousness, which instead, accepts and acknowledges what is there, rather than judging it. You can find this idea in Buddhist teachings, which recommend 'acceptance'.
    – Jelila
    Commented Dec 20, 2022 at 4:16

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