How good are you with money? What about reading people's emotions? How healthy are you, compared to other people you know? Knowing how our skills stack up against others is useful in many ways. But psychological research suggests that we're not very good at evaluating ourselves accurately. In fact, we frequently overestimate our own abilities. David Dunning describes the Dunning-Kruger effect. [Directed by Wednesday Studio, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Tom Drew].

David Dunning: Why incompetent people think they're amazing

Why incompetent people think they're amazing

The Dunning-Kruger effect reveals our penchant to overestimate abilities, a phenomenon seen in various skills from grammar to ethics.

Lacking in expertise often blinds individuals to their own mistakes, a dual burden that fuels the Dunning-Kruger effect's cycle.

Seeking feedback and continual learning are key strategies to pierce the veil of overconfidence and accurately assess one's abilities.