Achievement Fantasy as a Function of Variations in Self-Rated Competence

Abstract

This study investigated relationships between the nature and quantity of achievement fantasy and self-rated competencies with respect to the type of tasks portrayed in the picture cues used to elicit the fantasies. High school senior men responded to an experimental battery of pictures selected so that the type of competence required for the tasks portrayed was very clear. Self-ratings of competence were obtained in these same task areas. Results suggest that achievement fantasy concerned with long-term career achievement and with unique accomplishments occurs more frequently in stories written in response to pictures of tasks in which the individual perceives himself as highly competent. The achievement fantasies appearing in response to pictures accompanied by ratings of low competence tend to focus on concern about good performance with respect to the immediate routine aspects of the task portrayed. For high-ability Ss pictures reflecting cues from tasks in which an individual perceives himself to be highly competent elicit a significantly greater amount of achievement imagery than low-competence cues. Low-ability persons manifested significantly more imagery in response to pictures from low-competence task areas.