Self-Understanding and the Accuracy of Behavioral Expectations

Abstract

While Nisbett and Wilson (1977) and other researchers (e.g., Ericsson & Simon, 1980) argue about the accuracy of self-reported data, the distinction between the ability and the willingness to accurately self-report has been somewhat overlooked. Namely, issues of self-understanding must be differentiated from those of self-presentation. Further, self-understanding that relates to specific behavioral domains must be differentiated from general self-understanding. The present article argues that general self-understanding is a potentially important individual difference variable that has been neglected in the literature. The relationship between general self-understanding and the accuracy of self-reported behavioral expectations is discussed and provocative preliminary findings are reported that suggest that further research on the topic is warranted.