Distortions in reports of health behaviors: The time span effect and illusory superiority

被引:28
作者
Hoorens, V
Harris, P
机构
[1] Tilburg Univ, Dept Psychol, NL-5000 LE Tilburg, Netherlands
[2] Univ Sussex, Brighton BN1 9RH, E Sussex, England
关键词
time span effect; illusory superiority; self reports; health behavior; behavioral expectations;
D O I
10.1080/08870449808407303
中图分类号
R1 [预防医学、卫生学];
学科分类号
1004 ; 120402 ;
摘要
The occurrence of a time span effect and illusory superiority in self reports of health behaviors was tested. It was found that people report proportionally lower frequencies of both healthy and unhealthy behaviors if they give frequency estimations over a longer as compared to a shorter time span (time span effect). In addition, they report lower frequencies of unhealthy behaviors, and higher frequencies of healthy behaviors for themselves than for the average other (illusory superiority). For healthy but not for unhealthy behaviors a stronger illusory superiority effect was obtained in frequency reports for behavioral expectations as compared to past behaviors. Potential explanations and implications for subjective measurements of health behavior are discussed.
引用
收藏
页码:451 / 466
页数:16
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