Self-preserving assessments of skill

Bibliographic Data

ID5266844
AuthorsJohn A Groeger (0000-0002-3582-1058, University of Surrey, corresponding author), Gunn Grande (0000-0003-2200-1680, University of Surrey), Gunn E Grande
Year1996
Volume87
Issue1
Pages61-79
Publication date1996-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBritish Journal of Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0007-1269 • E-ISSN: 2044-8295
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.2044-8295.1996.tb02577.x
OpenAlexW2076560889
LanguageEN
Citations received4

The studies reported in this paper had two aims: (a) to identify which psychological variables underlie people's overly positive assessments of their own ability and (b) to explore the relationship between these and actual ability. In a first study, over 300 drivers assessed their driving ability in comparison to that of a novice. A positive view of own driving ability was directly related to the amount of accident-free and endorsement-free driving experience a driver had had and the driver's level of Neuroticism. It was negatively related to the number of errors drivers reported in other everyday tasks. In a second study, the actual driving skills of over 100 of the original subjects were assessed by a driving instructor. It was found that self-assessments did not relate to actual ability, but instead to the comments made by the instructor and the subject's self-assessment as measured during the earlier study. These results are discussed in terms of a stable, but inaccurate, self-concept which is established as experience of the domain grows in the absence of contrary evidence

Cognitive psychology · Developmental psychology · Neuroticism · Personality · Applied Psychology · Emotional Intelligence and Performance · Personality Traits and Psychology · Psychological and Educational Research Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology

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