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Overconfidence and personal evaluations of social rank

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

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  • P Gilbert
  • S Allan
  • L Ball
  • Z Bradshaw
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>03/1996
<mark>Journal</mark>British Journal of Medical Psychology
Issue number1
Volume69
Number of pages10
Pages (from-to)59-68
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Research on confidence judgements suggests that people are often overconfident. However, some studies have found that depressed mood reduces this positive bias. To date this has been explained as a mood phenomenon. In this study we explore an alternative theory which suggests that confidence is related to internal judgements of social rank and status. This theory suggests that the lower one perceives oneself to be in status and rank the less one can afford to be overconfident. Data from a student population suggests that confidence judgements are associated with internal judgements of status.