Incompetent People Really Have No Clue, Studies FindThey're Blind to Own Failings, Others' Skills
Erica Goode, New York Times
Tuesday, January 18, 2000
There are many incompetent people in the world. Dr. David A. Dunning.... professor of psychology at Cornell, worries about this because, according to his research, most incompetent people do not know that they are incompetent. ....
One reason that the ignorant also tend to be the blissfully self-assured, the researchers believe, is that the skills required for competence often are the same skills necessary to recognize competence.
The incompetent, therefore, suffer doubly, ... suggested ... a paper appearing in the December issue of the Journal of Personality and SocialPsychology.
"Not only do they reach erroneous conclusions and make unfortunate choices, but their incompetence robs them of the ability to realize it,'' wrote ....[Dr] Dunning [and a colleague, Dr. Kruger]. ....
In a series of studies, Kruger and Dunning tested their theory of incompetence. They found that subjects who scored in the lowest quartile on tests of logic, English grammar and humor were also the most likely to "grossly overestimate'' how well they had performed. ....
Dunning said his current research and past studies indicated there are many reasons why people would tend to overestimate their competency and not be aware of it. ....
In various situations, feedback is absent, or at least ambiguous; even a humorless joke, for example, is likely to be met with polite laughter. And faced with incompetence, social norms prevent most people from blurting out "You stink!'' -- truthful though this assessment may be.
Let's Fly Under the Bridge, dedicated to countering excess self-esteem by providing feedback not found in polite company. You're very welcome.
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