Dunning–Kruger effect

The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which people with low ability or limited knowledge in a domain tend to overestimate their own competence.

The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which people with low ability or limited knowledge in a domain tend to overestimate their own competence. It was described by psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger in 1999 and is often discussed as the opposite pattern of higher performers underestimating themselves.

Definition

The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which people with limited ability in a domain overrate their own knowledge or skill relative to objective measures or other people.

Origin

The effect is named for psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger, who studied it in 1999. Their work is commonly cited as the formal introduction of the concept.

Why it happens

One explanation is that the skills needed to perform well are also needed to judge performance accurately, so people with limited competence may lack the metacognitive ability to recognize their own deficiencies.

Debate and interpretation

The effect has been debated in later research, with some scholars arguing that observed results can be explained partly by statistical factors rather than a distinct psychological mechanism.

Canadian context

The concept is widely used in Canadian education, workplace training, public communication, and media commentary as a way to describe overconfidence and gaps in self-assessment.