Unskilled and unaware: The deathtrap of the Dunning-Kruger effect
Haven’t we all at some point come across someone who is not only blissfully ignorant of their incompetence but, is also confident that their performance is extraordinary? If you have witnessed this, you likely saw the Dunning-Kruger Effect in action.
Dunning-Kruger Effect, as you may have guessed, is a cognitive bias where people who are incompetent at something are unable to recognize their own incompetence. And not only that, they’re also likely to feel confident that they actually are competent.
The irony of the Dunning-Kruger Effect is that the knowledge and intelligence that are required to be good at a task are often the same qualities needed to recognize that one is not good at that task — and if one lacks such knowledge and intelligence, one remains ignorant that one is not good at that task.
It is important to understand the Dunning-Kruger effect, not only to know that your incompetent and annoying colleague’s trait has a name but also to assesses whether you yourself are an unsuspecting victim of the same condition.
The truth is Dunning-Kruger effect can affect everyone, including you. No one can claim expertise in every domain. You might be an expert in a number of areas and still have significant knowledge gaps in other areas.
At work, the Dunning-Kruger effect can make it difficult for people to recognize and correct their own poor performance. It bars them from being receptive to constructive criticism. It tempts them to reach for excuses as opposed to recognizing and working on their own inadequacies.
Difficulties in recognizing one’s own incompetence can lead to inflated self-assessments — which can be dangerous. The Dunning-Kruger effect isn’t actually a sign of low intelligence. Smart people apparently also experience this phenomenon.
While it is not uncommon to fall prey to this effect, it can certainly be beaten at its own game:
- Curiosity, openness, and a lifelong commitment to learning. There is no shortcut to success. Nurturing a growth mindset can certainly help minimize the effects of Dunning-Kruger in your everyday life.
- Play the devil’s advocate with yourself and challenge your own claims. Can you come up with a counter-argument or rebuttal to your own ideas?
- Change your reasoning and dismantle destructive thought patterns. Do you apply the same logic to every question or problem you encounter? Trying new things can help you break out of patterns that will increase your confidence.
- Embrace criticism. Taking criticism seriously is key to growth. Investigate claims that you don’t agree with by asking for evidence or examples of how you can improve.
- Question longstanding views about yourself. Are you actually as great at math or writing as you think you are? The Dunning-Kruger effect suggests you should be critical when it comes to assessing what you’re good at.
