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Dunning–Kruger effect

A compact thinking tool for spotting patterns and avoiding mistakes.

  1. The useful idea

    The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias that describes the systematic tendency of people with low ability in a specific area to give overly positive assessments of this ability.

  2. How it works

    The term may also refer to the tendency of high performers to underestimate their skills.

  3. Why it matters

    The effect was formalized and empirically studied by the psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger in 1999.

Use Dunning–Kruger effect as a quick check before trusting your first conclusion.

Use Dunning–Kruger effect as a quick check before trusting your first conclusion.

Test your recall

Which idea belongs to the explanation of Dunning–Kruger effect?

  • The useful idea — correct
  • How it works
  • Why it matters

The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias that describes the systematic tendency of people with low ability in a specific area to give overly positive assessments of this ability.

EvergreenLast verified 2026-07-19

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