Dunning Kruger effect: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Hawkings quote.jpg|alt=Hawkings quote|thumb|False confidence is a dangerous thing.]]
[[File:Hawkings quote.jpg|alt=Hawkings quote|thumb|False confidence is a dangerous thing.]]
'''Dunning-Kruger effect, in psychology, is a [[Cognitive biases|cognitive bias]] whereby people with limited knowledge overestimate their own competence relative to the performance of their peers or of people in general'''<ref>'''Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognizing One's Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments.''' Kruger, Justin & Dunning, David. (2000).  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 77. 1121-34. 10.1037//0022-3514.77.6.1121. Accessed on 25 January 2023 via https://www.researchgate.net/publication/12688660_Unskilled_and_Unaware_of_It_How_Difficulties_in_Recognizing_One's_Own_Incompetence_Lead_to_Inflated_Self-Assessments </ref>'''. This effect has been found to be more pronounced in people with strong negative attitudes to science<ref>'''People with more extreme attitudes towards science have self-confidence in their understanding of science, even if this is not justified'''. Cristina Fonseca, Jonathan Pettitt, Alison Woollard, Adam Rutherford, Wendy Bickmore. PLOS Biology. Published: January 24, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001915</ref> and more specifically, men<ref>'''Gender Differences in Self-Estimated Intelligence: Exploring the Male Hubris, Female Humility Problem'''. Front. Psychology 07 February 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.812483
'''The Dunning-Kruger effect is a type of [[Cognitive biases|cognitive bias]] where individuals with low ability, knowledge, or expertise in a particular domain tend to overestimate their own competence. This occurs because their lack of knowledge prevents them from accurately assessing their own performance or recognizing the abilities of others. On the flip side, individuals who are highly skilled or knowledgeable in a domain often underestimate their own abilities, as they assume others possess similar levels of competence.'''<ref>'''Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognizing One's Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments.''' Kruger, Justin & Dunning, David. (2000).  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 77. 1121-34. 10.1037//0022-3514.77.6.1121. Accessed on 25 January 2023 via https://www.researchgate.net/publication/12688660_Unskilled_and_Unaware_of_It_How_Difficulties_in_Recognizing_One's_Own_Incompetence_Lead_to_Inflated_Self-Assessments </ref>'''.'''  
</ref>.'''


The effect is extremely important in society as it gives confidence to people who overestimate their ability.
This effect has been found to be more pronounced in people with strong negative attitudes to science<ref>'''People with more extreme attitudes towards science have self-confidence in their understanding of science, even if this is not justified'''. Cristina Fonseca, Jonathan Pettitt, Alison Woollard, Adam Rutherford, Wendy Bickmore. PLOS Biology. Published: January 24, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001915</ref> and more specifically, men<ref>'''Gender Differences in Self-Estimated Intelligence: Exploring the Male Hubris, Female Humility Problem'''. Front. Psychology 07 February 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.812483
</ref>. The societal implications of the Dunning-Kruger effect are profound. Individuals who overestimate their abilities are more likely to assert themselves in discussions, make decisions with undue confidence, or take on leadership roles, even when they may not be the best candidates. This can lead to the spread of misinformation, poor decision-making in professional or political arenas, and the marginalization of experts or those with more nuanced understanding. This dynamic is particularly concerning in fields where accurate knowledge is crucial, such as medicine, finance, or governance.
=== References ===
=== References ===

Revision as of 07:57, 13 October 2024

Hawkings quote
False confidence is a dangerous thing.

The Dunning-Kruger effect is a type of cognitive bias where individuals with low ability, knowledge, or expertise in a particular domain tend to overestimate their own competence. This occurs because their lack of knowledge prevents them from accurately assessing their own performance or recognizing the abilities of others. On the flip side, individuals who are highly skilled or knowledgeable in a domain often underestimate their own abilities, as they assume others possess similar levels of competence.[1].

This effect has been found to be more pronounced in people with strong negative attitudes to science[2] and more specifically, men[3]. The societal implications of the Dunning-Kruger effect are profound. Individuals who overestimate their abilities are more likely to assert themselves in discussions, make decisions with undue confidence, or take on leadership roles, even when they may not be the best candidates. This can lead to the spread of misinformation, poor decision-making in professional or political arenas, and the marginalization of experts or those with more nuanced understanding. This dynamic is particularly concerning in fields where accurate knowledge is crucial, such as medicine, finance, or governance.

References

  1. Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognizing One's Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments. Kruger, Justin & Dunning, David. (2000). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 77. 1121-34. 10.1037//0022-3514.77.6.1121. Accessed on 25 January 2023 via https://www.researchgate.net/publication/12688660_Unskilled_and_Unaware_of_It_How_Difficulties_in_Recognizing_One's_Own_Incompetence_Lead_to_Inflated_Self-Assessments
  2. People with more extreme attitudes towards science have self-confidence in their understanding of science, even if this is not justified. Cristina Fonseca, Jonathan Pettitt, Alison Woollard, Adam Rutherford, Wendy Bickmore. PLOS Biology. Published: January 24, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001915
  3. Gender Differences in Self-Estimated Intelligence: Exploring the Male Hubris, Female Humility Problem. Front. Psychology 07 February 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.812483

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