Sex Differences in the Congruency of Perceived Intelligence

Abstract

Summary Twenty-two males and 22 females, matched on intelligence, completed a Self-Rating Scale of Intelligence (SRSI), Mehrabian's Achievement Tendency Scales, the Otis Quick-Scoring Test of Mental Ability, and provided information regarding their grade-point averages. The SRSI provided the Ss with the opportunity to estimate their intelligence and their parents' perceptions of their intelligence. The purpose of the study was to determine if sex differences exist in the congruency between the self-rating of intelligence and expected parental ratings, actual intelligence, achievement motivation, and achievement performance. The results revealed that while the males' selfrating of intelligence correlated with these measures, the females' self-rating did not. The results were discussed in terms of a possible sex difference in the meaning of the concept of intelligence.