kewerest
𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐠𝐲𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭
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I wrote all of this with the help of a translator, since I’m too lazy to learn English, so there may be mistakes.
Do you think you can honestly assess your appearance, charisma, or intelligence?
You're wrong. Your brain won't let you.
Because its main job is to protect your psyche - even if it means lying.
The "Above Average" Effect
This phenomenon is one of the most studied biases in psychology. You almost always think you're better than you actually are.
From the Cambridge University Press study (Heuristics and Biases, 2002):
Here are just a few examples from research:
70% of schoolchildren consider their leadership qualities to be above average, and only 2% - below.
94% of university professors believe they teach better than their colleagues.
90% of people consider themselves above-average drivers.
From the same Cambridge study:
70% of schoolchildren consider their leadership qualities to be above average, and only 2% - below.
94% of university professors believe they teach better than their colleagues.
90% of people consider themselves above-average drivers.
From the same Cambridge study:
Statistically, this is impossible. But your brain doesn't notice. It feeds you a convenient image so you don't feel worthless.
Why does this happen?
The "above-average" effect is a defense mechanism. Your brain doesn't want you to see your real flaws because it would destroy your self-esteem. You're not just "wrong" in your self-assessment - you're actively protecting yourself from the truth.
And the funny thing is: this mechanism works even when you know it exists. After reading this thread, you'll still think you're an exception. It's called a "blind spot" to your own biases.
What does this mean for you?
When you look in the mirror and think you're "good," or when you rate your intelligence as "above average," you're most likely wrong. This doesn't mean you're stupid or ugly. It means your brain is blocking you from seeing the truth.
Furthermore, research shows that people with low self-esteem exhibit the same level of self-deception as people with high self-esteem. You can hate yourself, but your brain will still feed you a picture where you're not so bad after all.
How to bypass this defense
You can't trust your own judgment. You'll always be inclined to downplay your flaws and exaggerate your strengths. The only way to truly see yourself is through someone else's assessment. But your brain can filter even that out if you don't like it.
Conclusion
You can't evaluate yourself objectively. You'll always evaluate yourself based on what's most advantageous to you at the moment. You're not "insecure" about yourself. You simply don't want to see the truth. And your brain actively helps you do this.
Reprint of the same work from 1989 in a collection
www.cambridge.org
Original article from 1989
psycnet.apa.org
About self-esteem
psycnet.apa.org
Links with statistics
eric.ed.gov
dnr=faggot
Ambiguity and Self-Evaluation: The Role of Idiosyncratic Trait Definitions in Self-Serving Assessments of Ability (Chapter 18) - Heuristics and Biases
Heuristics and Biases - July 2002
Log in - American Psychological Association
Log in - American Psychological Association
ERIC - EJ1070701 - Are You as Good a Teacher as You Think?, Thought & Action, 2006
A survey of professors at the University of Nebraska shows that 94 percent of the professors thought they were better than average teachers at their own institution. Assuming a reality that puts the true value at somewhere near 50 percent, this survey suggests a rather stunning lack of...
