CONFESSIONS

How The Dunning-Kruger Effect Influences Self-Esteem Negatively

Ramblings From the Aspiring Therapist

It’s strange, but it’s a reality for some people — those who reportedly know nothing, will often speak as if they know a lot about the subject matter. By contrast, many of us think we know very little, and underestimate our own abilities.

This phenomenon is called the Dunning-Kruger effect.

There’s a lot of data out there surrounding it, and sometimes I dislike the whole construct immensely. For example, I am extremely humble — to the extent that people are often surprised at what I am capable of.

I don’t really like putting myself out there, even though I know that I should.

I will admit that I underestimate myself sometimes, but if I think I know a lot, that would make me one of the very people who speak as if they know something (when really they don’t).

However, to showcase what I know, I do have to work on selling myself as a credible voice. Furthermore, there’s the whole self-esteem thing. To have others take me seriously, I will have to talk at great lengths — and exhibit a great deal of performative self-esteem.

I mean, I think my self-esteem is fine, but I need to present it in a way that others will see it is fine (since they can’t read my mind).

That being said, I think this means that each one of us is technically a member of this Dunning-Kruger club anyway — none of us know everything, so I assume we all have deficits in one area or more.

To sum it up, our self-esteem is constantly in battle with what we think we know and what we actually know. Even if things seem dire, at least it’s not the end of the world.

As Jean-Jacques Rousseau once famously said,

“People who know little are usually great talkers, while men who know much, say little. It is plain than an ignorant person thinks everything he does know important, and he tells it to everybody. But a well-educated man is not so ready to display his learning; he would have too much to say, and he sees that there is much more to be said, so he holds his peace.”

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Disclaimer

This article is solely for informational purposes and represents the writer’s personal opinion. Please seek professional advice if required.