Effects of reviewing risk-relevant behavior on perceived vulnerability among women marines
Gerrard, M.; Gibbons, F.X.; Warner, T.D.
Health Psychology Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology American Psychological Association 10(3): 173-179
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0278-6133 PMID: 1879389 DOI: 10.1037/0278-6133.10.3.173Document Number: 316942
People generally underestimate their own vulnerability to negative events such as illness or accidents. It has been suggested that this illusion of "unique invulnerability" is due to selective focus on one's own risk-reducing behaviors, to the exclusion of others' risk-reducing behaviors and one's own risk-increasing behaviors. The current study examined the effects of reviewing sexual and contraceptive behavior on perceived vulnerability to unplanned pregnancy. Our results indicated that review of pregnancy-related behaviors decreased perceived vulnerability among two groups of subjects: those who considered unplanned pregnancy to be most undesirable and those who had the most confidence in the efficacy of their contraceptive behavior. The data also support the hypothesis that selective focus is a source of the illusion of invulnerability.