Corrections_Today_November_December_2020_Vol.82_No.6

n Psychology

Capella University), this author found empirical data regarding the Self-Perception Theory and Self-Reporting. Both of these elements are extremely pertinent when looking at self-esteem, job-satisfaction, work production, and professionalism of the correctional staff (Brunson- Alonso, 2017). Self-perception theory Research has shown findings regarding the Self-Per - ception Theory. Self-perception has been viewed as being based on socially shared reality where a union between judgment by self and others exist (Funder & Colvin, 1988; Kenny & West, 2010). The Self-Perception Theory sug - gests an individual recalls memories of previous behaviors related to an event, and use those memories to understand current attitudes and behaviors (Wang et al., 2014). One view of the Self-Perception Theory holds that self-percep - tion is self-serving, distorted, and more positive than the ones that are continually defended by the perceptions of others (Kok, 2014). When reviewing self-per -

When discussing age, there are opposing views on age and self-perception. Empirical data shows with age, the individual’s perception changes (Daley et al., 2004; Kerbs & Jolley, 2009; Phillips, 1963). The person’s perception becomes more reality-oriented than those younger (Daley et al., 2004; Kerbs & Jolley, 2009; Phillips, 1963). How - ever, more recent research opposes that theory and states that little is known about how self-perception changes with age (Freund & Isaacowitz, 2014). Sex and gender When discussing sex and gender, we must be clear on the differences which exist. The sex of the individual can be determined by physical genitalia or genetic factors. Cambridge Dictionary defines sex as, “the state of being either male or female, or all males or all females consid - ered as a group.” Gender, on the other hand, is defined very clearly in an article found in the Medical News Today Newsletter. According to the article, gender refers to the cultural and social roles of each sex within society.

ception and self-reports, there are things to consider. Interest - ingly, there are three measures of accuracy: self-evaluation, calibration and response bias. Self-evaluation is synonymous with self-assessment. Cali - bration is a measure of how accurately individuals assess their confidence in their own knowledge (Stone, 2000). Response bias is the tendency of an individual to answer survey questions untruthfully (Blanker & Groeneveld, 2000). As corrections officers and other corrections staff are observed, it is important to know self- perception can be affected by different factors. Some of those factors mentioned later in this article are age, sex and gender, health (mental and physical) and race.

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28 — November/December 2020 Corrections Today

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