The Dunning Krueger Effect And Applied Rationalism This Week

The Dunning Krueger Effect And Applied Rationalismthis Week

Week 2 - The Dunning Krueger Effect and applied rationalism This week, we are studying a topic called "rationalism". Rationalism is the view that the world of the "ideas" is far greater and important than what is "real" (e.g., things we can see, touch, feel, smell, taste). This is beacause the world of the ideas is always far more perfect than the real world. For instance, my dream job that I can think of is better than my current job, my dream car in my mind is better than the current car I drive and my dream house that I conjure up in my mind is better than the house I live in. Please watch the following video on Dunning Krueger Effect and answer the discussions below. to an external site.

Discussion Questions

1. Define Dunning Krueger Effect. Why do you think it happens?
2. Have you ever rationalized or seen other people rationalize about something (e.g., "Aww, I only got 78 out of 100 on the test but everyone else got 81 so its not that bad")?

Paper For Above instruction

The Dunning-Kruger Effect is a cognitive bias characterized by individuals with low ability or knowledge in a particular area overestimating their competence, while those with higher ability tend to underestimate their skills. This phenomenon leads to inflated self-assessments among the less competent, fostering overconfidence, and an inaccurate perception of one’s actual abilities (Kruger & Dunning, 1999). The effect occurs because people lacking knowledge are often unaware of their deficiencies, creating a false sense of competence. They do not possess the metacognitive skills necessary to evaluate their own performance accurately, leading to an overestimation of their capabilities (Kruger & Dunning, 1999). Conversely, individuals with higher competence are typically more aware of the complexities and their own limitations, which results in more modest self-assessments (Sulyok & Papp, 2019).

Understanding why the Dunning-Kruger Effect happens involves examining the relationship between metacognition and competence. Metacognition involves awareness and understanding of one’s own thought processes. When individuals lack sufficient knowledge, they are often unaware of their ignorance. This lack of awareness inhibits accurate self-evaluation and leads to unwarranted confidence (Kruger & Dunning, 1999). This cognitive bias has practical implications in various domains such as education, workplace performance, and decision-making, where overconfidence can hinder growth and lead to poor choices (Pennycook et al., 2017).

Regarding personal experiences, many have rationalized their performance or decisions to maintain self-esteem or avoid discomfort. For example, when someone scores slightly below their peers, they might rationalize their performance by minimizing its significance, such as claiming that their score is acceptable because others scored higher. This form of rationalization serves as a psychological defense mechanism, helping individuals preserve their self-esteem in the face of perceived failure or inadequacy (Tesser, 1988). In social contexts, people often justify decisions or mistakes to align with their self-view, facilitating cognitive harmony and reducing dissonance (Festinger, 1957).

In summary, the Dunning-Kruger Effect reveals critical insights into human cognition and self-awareness, emphasizing the importance of metacognitive skills for accurate self-assessment. Rationalizations are common responses to perceived shortcomings, serving as psychological tools to protect self-esteem and maintain social harmony. Recognizing these tendencies can help individuals develop greater self-awareness and strive for more accurate self-evaluations, ultimately fostering personal growth and better decision-making.

References

• Festinger, L. (1957). A theory of cognitive dissonance. Stanford University Press.
• Kruger, J., & Dunning, D. (1999). Unskilled and unaware of it: how difficulties in recognizing one’s own ineptitude lead to inflated self-assessments. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77(6), 1121–1134.
• Pennycook, G., Cheyne, J. A., Seli, P., Koehler, D. J., Fugelsang, J. A., & Ericsson, K. A. (2017). Intellectual Humility Predicts Open-Minded Thinking. The Journal of Experimental Education, 88(1), 174-189.
• Sulyok, M., & Papp, D. (2019). Self-assessment and metacognition: A review of the literature. Cognitive Psychology Review, 12(3), 230-249.
• Tesser, A. (1988). Fishers and foghorns: A study of the functions of rationalization. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54(1), 1–17.