Studies show “The majority of people believe they are better than average.”
But let's face it, statistically speaking, half of us must be below average.
Are you the hero in your own story, valiantly rising above a sea of mediocrity? Or perhaps, like most, you're just a smidge above the median - carefully balancing between superiority and humility. Whatever the case, take comfort in knowing that at least you’re not alone in overestimating yourself. Our Society seems to live in a labyrinth of biases and distortions. Unskilled and Unaware - Why you're uglier than you think.
The Labyrinth of Self-Perception: A Hilarious Misunderstanding of Beauty and Skill
Studies show the majority of people believing they are better than average, this widespread self-assessment is mathematically impossible. By definition, not everyone can be above the median, highlighting a fascinating and common psychological phenomenon where self-perception often deviates from statistical reality.
You Are Less Beautiful than you Think
The Self-Enhancement Bias: The Sweet Spice of Denial
Humans have a natural tendency to view themselves in the best possible light, a phenomenon known as self-enhancement bias. We prefer to see ourselves as our best, most beautiful selves, even if it means tweaking reality a little.
Let me guess, while you're reading this you may think "well that’s not me" .... what makes you so special - or the fact that you may think you are more self-aware than average, it makes you actually pretty average. How did Robert Greene say in the 48 Laws of power "Play to people’s fantasies. The truth is often avoided because it is ugly and unpleasant. Never appeal to truth and reality (...)" (1)
Whatever, only a fool would point that out. Your Beauty will save the world, you idiot!
Save the World.
Fyodor Dostoevsky - 'The cleverest of all, in my opinion, is the man who calls himself a fool at least once a month.'
Unskilled and Unaware
It is mathematically impossible for most people to be better than average at a certain task, but we know better, or "we think to know better":
According to research, 93% of Americans believe they are better drivers than the average person. Similarly, 90% of teachers consider themselves more skilled than their colleagues. This tendency to overestimate one's abilities extends to many other areas, including performance on logic tests. (7)
The Dunning-Kruger Effect.
This phenomenon illustrates how people with low ability at a task overestimate their ability. It’s like giving a toddler a paintbrush and suddenly they believe they’re Picasso. Next time you meet someone boasting they can do everything coming their way, remember - they might be a living testament to the Dunning-Kruger Effect - the pièce de résistance in our comedy of cognitive errors
Illusory Superiority
Closely tied to the Dunning-Kruger Effect is Illusory Superiority, where individuals believe they are better than others in various life aspects - be it driving, humour, or intelligence. Yes, deep down, many might believe they’re a fraction better than perceived.
Prtty Privilege Society
Sources
(1) Robert Greene, 48 Laws of Power
Let’s dive into a quirky study that brings a fresh perspective on how we perceive ourselves. In the experiment, participants were shown a series of photos of themselves. Some images were the real deal, raw and unfiltered, while others were retouched to be either more attractive or less flattering. When asked to identify the "real" photo of themselves, guess which one they often chose - most participants pointed to the prettier version!
