Reduced Positive Bias in Autistic Adults’ Intelligence Self-Assessments

Judging one’s own cognitive ability is a core aspect of self-reflection, yet most people overestimate their intelligence. We investigated whether autistic (n=284, 18-77 years old) and non-autistic (n=63, 18-76 years old) adults differ in this bias. Participants, all naïve to prior IQ testing, completed a brief online cognitive test and provided self-estimates of intelligence. Across groups, self-estimates modestly correlated with test scores (r = .33). Nearly all non-autistic participants (93.6%) overestimated their ability, whereas autistic participants were more divided: 75.7% overestimated and 24.3% underestimated, yielding a weaker positivity bias overall. This suggests two distinct forms of inaccuracy: a systematic positivity bias in non-autistic individuals versus more variable, sometimes unduly negative, self-views in autistic individuals. These could be shaped by stereotypes or social experiences, and/or a result of general meta-cognitive imprecision. These findings highlight both reduced ego-enhancing bias and an overlooked vulnerability, offering a nuanced view of autistic self-perception.