RELATIONS BETWEEN CHILDRENS OVERESTIMATION OF THEIR PHYSICAL ABILITIES AND ACCIDENT PRONENESS

Two experiments examined developmental changes in the accuracy of chil dren's judgments about their physical abilities. Experiment 1 showed t hat 6- and 8-year-olds overestimated their ability to perform tasks ju st beyond and well beyond their ability. Adults only had difficulty ma king judgments about tasks just beyond their ability. Experiment 2 inv estigated how experience with performing activities influences judgmen ts about physical abilities. Six-year-olds again overestimated their a bility to perform tasks just beyond and well beyond their ability. Eig ht-year-olds were more accurate about tasks well beyond than just beyo nd their ability. In both experiments, overestimation of ability was a ssociated with accidental injuries for 6- but not for 8-year-olds. The discussion focuses on children's overestimation of physical abilities and the relation between overestimation and accident proneness.