Know Thyself: Real-World Behavioral Correlates of Self-Appraisal Accuracy

Abstract

Accurate appraisal of one's own abilities is one metacognitive skill considered to be an important factor affecting learning and behavior in childhood. The present study measured self-appraisal accuracy in children using tasks of executive function, and investigated relations between self-appraisal and informant ratings of real-world behaviors measured by the BRIEF. We examined self-appraisal accuracy on fluency tasks in 91 children ages 10–17. More accurate self-appraisal was correlated with fewer informant ratings of real-world behavior problems in inhibition and shifting, independent of actual performance. Findings suggest that self-appraisal represents cognitive processes that are at least partially independent of other functions putatively dependent on the frontal lobes, and these self-appraisal-specific processes have unique implications for optimal daily function.

Keywords:

• Self-assessment
• Self-concept
• Awareness
• Child behavior
• Executive Function
• Meta-cognition

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) [grant number 1 RO1-AG022983-01 to J.K.] and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) [grant number HHSN-271200623661C to J.K.]. The authors report no conflicts of interest.