Interpersonal Perception of the AIDS Risk Potential of Persons of the Opposite Sex

Individuals engage in high rates of AIDS risk behavior, despite awareness that infection is preventable, and use biased decision rules for determining the AIDS risk potential of their own and others' behavior. In this laboratory study, 32 male and 32 female university students made judgments of the AIDS risk potential of persons of the opposite sex following exposure to explicit information regarding AIDS-related attitudes and behavior in a discussion group. A social relations analysis showed that judgments of AIDS risk potential were determined by perceiver-based assimilation that was stronger than target-based consensus for both men and women. Further, perceptions of others were related to self-perception. However, the consensus that was observed showed moderate accuracy. Implications for AIDS prevention are discussed.