Dunning�Kruger effect

[Christianbookworm]

Proverbs: giving wise insights of people thousands of years before Psychologists. Think psychology reinvents the wheel? Ancient wisdom literature and philosophers were very insightful.

[sylas]

I don't think you need to pit it as "psychologists vs ancient wisdom: which is better? who was first?"

In point of fact, there's a big difference between the wisdom expressed in proverbs and the specific hypothesis being tested by Dunning and Kruger; one major difference is "scope". Dunning and Kruger's hypothesis is less general, and more specific (limited) than the proverbs; it deals specifically with how well individuals estimate their own ability in intellectual subjects. It isn't really about being a fool, so much a hypothesis that people tasked with estimating their own ability in a field are likely to overestimate if they lack solid background to help be more realistic on their own abilities.

One of the studies suggested that a basic level of tutoring in a subject has the effect of helping people get a better appreciation of where their own ability stands even before there is much change in their abilities from the tutoring. There are also some indications that the results have a cultural aspect; some cultures (in Asia?) may present an inverted effect in which non experts are inclined to underestimate their ability. And so on.

Dunning Kruger effect is not a proverb; but a hypothesis in psychology.

Cheers -- sylas

[Christianbookworm]

I wasn't trying to pit them against each other. It's just interesting that we've been figuring ourselves out for as long as we've existed.

[sylas]

Sure! "The proper study of mankind is man"

Though on checking that quote, it may be more controversial at tweb than I had first realized:

[shunyadragon]

I think there is a parallel here between 'task' and knowledge,. In general the more knowledgeable scientists are about their specialty the more humble they are about the nature of their knowledge, and they are willing to question their results, particularly in science.