Positive Illusory Bias and the Self-Protective Hypothesis in Children With Learning Disabilities

Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that overestimations of performance by children with learning disabilities (LD) are self-protective and will dissipate following positive feedback. Twenty-three boys and 17 girls with LD (ages 10.6 to 13.5 years) and a control group of non-LD matched children (22 boys and 17 girls) provided a prediction of their performance on a spelling test prior to completing the test. Subsequently, they were randomly assigned to either a positive feedback or a no-feedback condition. Finally, they provided a second prediction of performance on an equivalent spelling test. In children with LD, there was a positive bias in their predictions of performance, and, following positive feedback, their predictions became accurate. In children without LD, there was no positive bias and no effect of feedback. The results provide further support for the presence of a positive illusory bias and for the self-protective hypothesis in children with LD.

Do Irish Adolescents Have Adequate Functional Movement Skill and Confidence?

“…In light of this study, it may be plausible that despite the low levels of actual skill competence at both fundamental and functional movement levels, Irish adolescents may be inaccurately overestimating their perceived confidence levels for movement. Previous research within social psychology research has documented the existence of positive illusory bias within the general population (De Meester et al, 2016;Owens, Goldfine, Evangelista, Hoza, & Kaiser, 2007), and further research indicates that there is a positive bias among children and adolescents with learning disabilities in their predictions of performance (Heath & Glen, 2005).…”

The Role of Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in the Self-perceptions of Children with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties

“…Other researchers have examined the positive self-illusory bias among children with high levels of aggression (Hughes, Cavell, & Grossman, 1997) and Learning Disabilities (LD) (Heath, 1995;Heath & Glen, 2005). It is possible that children with the ADHD profile exist in samples of these children and that the positive distortion exhibited by these children is a function of the hyperactive/attention aspect rather than the aggression or learning factors.…”

“…It is possible that children with the ADHD profile exist in samples of these children and that the positive distortion exhibited by these children is a function of the hyperactive/attention aspect rather than the aggression or learning factors. In a recent study by Heath and Glen (2005), however, this possibility was taken into account as children with attention difficulties were excluded from the LD sample. Results showed that the positive illusory bias remained and that all students rated themselves as performing in the normal range.…”

“…Positive self-illusions have also been explored among children, particularly those with Learning Disabilities and more recently, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (Bear, Minke, Griffin, & Deemer, 1998;Cosden & McNamara, 1997;Dumas & Pelletier, 1999;Harter, Whitesell, & Junkin, 1998;Heath & Glen, 2005;Hoza, Pelham, Dobbs, Owens, & Pillow, 2002;Hoza, Pelham, Milich, Pillow, & McBride, 1993). These studies document the tendency of children with Learning Disabilities and those with ADHD to rate themselves more highly in areas such as academic competence, social skills, and behaviour than their actual skill level, as measured by standardized tests and/or teacher and peer reports.…”

Validação brasileira da escala de autopercepção de harter para crianças

“…Estudos sugerem que baixas percepções de competên-cia estão associadas com motivação intrínseca fragilizada (Hassandra, Goudas, & Chroni, 2003;Wu, 2003), desempenho escolar inadequado (Altermatt & Pomerantz, 2003;Chen et al, 2004;Valentini & Rudisill, 2004), dificuldades motoras (Valentini & Rudisill, 2004), défi-cit de atenção e dificuldades de aprendizagem (Barber, Grubbs, & Cottrell, 2005;Heath & Glen, 2005), obesidade (Franklin, Denyer, Steinbeck, Caterson, & Hill, 2006), baixa estatura (Van Pareren, Duivenvoorden, Slijper, Koot, & Hokken-Koelega, 2004), doenças crôni-cas (Chernoff, Ireys, DeVet, & Kim, 2002), agressão, comportamentos antissociais e delinquência (Donnellan, Trzesniewski, Robins, Moffitt, & Caspi, 2005).…”