Psychology of the Dunning-Kruger effect

The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias where individuals with limited knowledge or skills in a specific area overestimate their own competence. This occurs because the very skills required to perform a task correctly are often the same skills needed to recognize one's own errors or lack of proficiency.

First identified in 1999 by psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger from Cornell University, the phenomenon is described as a ‘dual burden.’ Individuals suffer not only from a lack of ability but also from an inability to recognize their own incompetence or the true expertise of others. This often leads to high levels of confidence among beginners, whereas experts may exhibit more caution and doubt due to their deeper understanding of a subject's complexities.