Metacognition, risk behavior, and risk outcomes: the role of perceived intelligence and perceived knowledge.
The present study explores 2 key variables in social metacognition: perceived intelligence and perceived levels of knowledge about a specific content domain. The former represents a judgment of one's knowledge at an abstract level, whereas the latter represents a judgment of one's knowledge in a specific content domain. Data from interviews of approximately 8,411 female adolescents from a national sample were analyzed in a 2-wave panel design with a year between assessments. Higher levels of perceived intelligence at Wave 1 were associated with a lower probability of the occurrence of a pregnancy over the ensuing year independent of actual IQ, self-esteem, and academic aspirations. Higher levels of perceived knowledge about the accurate use of birth control were associated with a higher probability of the occurrence of a pregnancy independent of actual knowledge about accurate use, perceived intelligence, self-esteem, and academic aspirations.
Jaccard
James
J
Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, USA. jjaccard@fiu.edu
Dodge
Tonya
T
Guilamo-Ramos
Vincent
V
D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D001240:Aspirations, Psychological; D003071:Cognition; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires