PREDICTING INTENTIONS TO USE A CONDOM FROM PERCEPTIONS OF NORMATIVE PRESSURE AND CONFIDENCE IN THOSE PERCEPTIONS

Two experiments were performed to test the hypothesis that confidence in the correctness of one's perceptions of normative pressure to use a condom influences the correspondence between those perceptions and in tentions to actually perform the behavior. In Study 1, confidence in p erceptions of normative influence was manipulated in an experimental p aradigm using hypothetical scenarios. In Study 2, confidence in subjec ts' actual perceptions was measured. Results from both experiments ind icate that the correspondence between perceptions of normative influen ce and intentions was greatest when subjects were confident that their perceptions of normative influence were correct.