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Subjective overachievement: individual differences in self-doubt and concern with performance
K C Oleson1, K M Poehlmann, J H Yost
1Reed College, USA.
Journal of Personality
|June 1, 2000
Summary
Self-doubt combined with performance concerns can lead to subjective overachievement. A new Subjective Overachievement Scale (SOS) measures these traits, showing reliable and valid results in psychological studies.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Personality Psychology
Background:
- Doubt about competence can lead to negative outcomes like self-handicapping and defensive pessimism.
- The interplay between self-doubt and performance concerns is crucial for understanding specific psychological phenomena.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and validate the Subjective Overachievement Scale (SOS).
- To measure individual differences in self-doubt and concern with performance.
- To explore the relationship between these constructs and other psychological variables.
Main Methods:
- Development and validation of a 17-item Subjective Overachievement Scale (SOS) with two subscales.
- Utilized two large samples (N=2,311 and 1,703) for scale validation and reliability testing.
- Conducted a second study to assess convergent and discriminant validity with related psychological constructs.
Main Results:
- The SOS demonstrated high internal consistency, a clear two-factor structure, and adequate test-retest reliability.
- The Concern with Performance Subscale correlated with achievement motivation.
- The Self-Doubt Subscale correlated with negative affectivity and self-related strategies like self-handicapping and the impostor phenomenon.
Conclusions:
- The Subjective Overachievement Scale (SOS) is a reliable and valid measure for assessing self-doubt and performance concerns.
- Subjective overachievement appears to be a distinct strategy for managing competence-related doubts.
- Findings contribute to understanding the complex relationship between self-perception, performance, and psychological well-being.
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