You are NOT as smart as you think you are

Most of us overestimate our abilities and knowledge, thinking we are reasonably intelligent and educated. However, according to studies done by Yale University, most people assumed they had at least a “vague” or “thorough” understanding of any topic. In actuality, when asked to write out their explanations with as much detail as possible, these participants often failed to offer more than the bare minimum of an answer – with many being surprised at their lack of knowledge.

This bias is known as “the illusion of explanatory depth” and was coined as such in 2002 by Leonid Rozenblit and Frank Keil. A possible explanation provided by the researchers was the ease of visualization for the concepts in question. A rainbow forming, a helicopter flying, and toilet flushing are all easy to visualize, which in turn leads to an increased level of confidence regarding the matter.

Most certainly, an “illusion of skill acquisition” is the most prevalent reason for our overestimation of our own knowledge. In studies done by Northwestern University, after participants repeatedly watched videos of various skills, they overestimated their own abilities to do the said skill. This translates even to complex life-or-death tasks, such as landing a plane.

This phenomenon can be dangerous as it may lead to less preparation for interviews, underestimation of job tasks, and could even lead to us undervaluing our colleagues. In order to avoid these traps, we can test ourselves before delving further into our delusions. Put yourselves in a situation where you have to perform this unfamiliar task and create a step-by-step plan on how to accomplish this task. Through this, any gaps in your knowledge are then brought to light. An alternative method would be to speak to a subject-matter expert.

With the ease of access to search engines, instead of instantly resorting to an internet search, a suggestion by Matthew Fisher, an assistant professor at Southern Methodist University, was for us to briefly pause and attempt to remember the specified fact. Using this method, we would begin to form a more realistic estimation of our own memory and its limits. Hopefully, by constantly reminding ourselves of our shortcomings, we acquire some level of humility and become better decision-makers.

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