Authors

Cheryl Bateman

Publication Date

6-1976

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Harry Robe, Lynn Clark, Robert Simpson

Degree Program

Department of Psychology

Degree Type

Master of Arts

Abstract

The present study deals with the fear of appearing incompetent as delineated by White, Goffman and Adler. The fear of appearing incompetent is an aspect of competence that may threaten self-esteem. The fear of appearing incompetent can purportedly be measured by the Fear of Appearing Incompetent Scale (FAIS).

It was found that the fear of appearing incompetent correlated positively with self-estimated IQ, but correlated negatively with obtained IQ. The fear of appearing incompetent had no significant relationship to GPA. The fear of appearing incompetent in participants who over-estimated their IQs did not differ significantly from the fear of appearing incompetent in participants who under-estimated their IQs. There was also no significant difference between the mean self-estimated IQ and the mean obtained IQ. Out of a total of 68 participants 44% accurately estimated their IQs, 22% over-estimated their IQs and 34% under-estimated their IQs.

Disciplines

Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Included in

Psychology Commons

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