The Dunning-Kruger Effect: The Less You Know, the More Confident You Feel

Psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger found in a 1999 study that people with limited knowledge in a domain tend to overestimate their own competence, while true experts often underestimate theirs. Incompetent people lack the meta-cognitive skills to recognize their own incompetence. The reverse — experts doubting themselves — is known as 'impostor syndrome.' Both effects are widely documented and have profound implications for education, leadership, and decision-making.

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https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1999-15054-002

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Published: April 8, 2026
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Psychology Science & Health Education

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