Interpersonal Perceptions of Intelligence in Late Childhood and Early Adolescent Friendships

Abstract

Fifteen male friendship pairs and 15 female friendship pairs at three grade levels (5th, 7th, and 9th) were administered the Self-Rating Scale of Intelligence (SRSI) and the Lorge-Thorndike intelligence test. The SRSI allowed each S to express an intelligence perception to self, friend, ideal friend, and the expected rating of self by the friend. Results indicated a tendency for intelligence perceptions to become more stable in females with increasing age, while a reverse tendency characterized the males’ intelligence perceptions. Friend-ideal friend congruency increased with age in females, but decreased with age in males. A need for the friend to support one’s own concept of intelligence was exhibited by most Ss.