ILLUSORY SELF-ASSESSMENTS - CAN THEY BE REDUCED

Research indicates that people have a high estimate of their personal ability and assess their vulnerability to personal risk as less than t heir peers. Even though these judgments have been found to be resistan t to change, previous research suggests that making individuals accoun table for their judgments may prevent certain illusory self-assessment s developing. Two studies investigated whether accountability modifies estimates of personal ability and vulnerability. Results indicated th at making participants more accountable for their judgments significan tly reduces positive self-assessments. There was also some suggestion that the extent of the accountability effect is proportional to the ma gnitude of the accountability manipulation.