In the 1999 study “Unskilled and Unaware of It,” Dunning and Kruger examined the criminal case of McArthur Wheeler, a bank robber who disguised himself by covering his face with lemon juice. His rationale was that the chemical properties of lemon juice, used in invisible ink, would render him invisible to the bank security cameras. An easy enough mistake, and one that cost him his freedom. After he was easily caught by the cops, the wannabe thief was shown the video surveillance footage of himself robbing the banks. Genuinely surprised that his plan hadn’t worked, Wheeler lacked the mental capabilities to figure out the gap in his own reasoning.
Other investigations followed, and Dunning and Kruger’s 2003 paper “Why Do People Fail to Recognize Their Own Incompetence?” observes the following: “Successful negotiation of everyday life would seem to require people to possess insight about deficiencies in their intellectual and social skills. However, people tend to be blissfully unaware of their incompetence. This lack of awareness arises because poor performers are doubly cursed: Their lack of skill deprives them not only of the ability to produce correct responses but also of the expertise necessary to surmise that they are not producing them. People base their perceptions of performance, in part, on their preconceived notions about their skills.”
A good example of the Dunning-Kruger effect in action would be the early audition rounds of a talent show open to the fame-crazy public. British pop-star wannabe Warren Wald became a mini-celebrity when he auditioned for the show Pop Idol in 2003 with a rendition of the 1980s track “Eye of the Tiger.” He sang the song so badly that the public adored him. Warren, who led a simple life, suddenly became a tabloid newspaper sensation. He gave interviews on television and radio, and the YouTube clip of him singing went viral. Warren had no apparent idea just how badly he sang until the nature of his fame came to light. When the penny dropped, Warren realized he was being celebrated for his guts and determination rather than his promise as a vocalist. His singing career is currently on hold.
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