Kruger and Dunning noted a number of previous studies which tend to suggest that in skills as diverse as reading comprehension, operating a motor vehicle, and playing chess or tennis, “ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge” (as Charles Darwin put it). They hypothesized that with a typical skill which humans may possess in greater or lesser degree,
- Incompetent individuals tend to overestimate their own level of skill.
- Incompetent individuals fail to recognize genuine skill in others.
- Incompetent individuals fail to recognize the extremity of their inadequacy.
- If they can be trained to substantially improve their own skill level, these individuals can recognize and acknowledge their own previous lack of skill.
Dunning-Kruger effect – Wikipedia
This explains a lot.
Hat tip to Tim Walker for mentioning the effect.
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5 comments so far… Jump into the discussion and tell us what you think.
Glad you’re spreading the Dunning-Kruger love, Alex. Much though I try to be an optimist in all things, this is a concept that needs *wide* exposure. ;)
Hah! That does explain many, many things in the history of things I’ve both seen and done :)
It is both refreshing and a bit scary. I now question myself all the more, wondering if I am overconfident when I should realize my lack of knowledge.
Keeps me on my toes I guess.
Thanks for commenting guys!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socrates
Socrates never thought he was wise, even though the Oracle told him he was the smartest man on Earth.
Socrates did not have the confidence to accept what the Oracle told him. If he had, he wouldn’t have asked so many brilliant questions and challenged thought the way he did. He would just be another incompetent boob who makes a series of stupid decisions based on his “gut”.
So being on your toes is good…or it gets you an earful of hemlock. Who knows.
Nicely put Michelle.