The Dunning-Kruger effect (theory)

The Dunning-Kruger effect is a psychological phenomenon where people with limited knowledge or skills in a certain area tend to overestimate their abilities. Conversely, those with more expertise often recognize their limitations and thus may underestimate their competence. This occurs because lack of skill impairs one's ability to assess their performance accurately, leading to inflated self-assessments among novices and more cautious self-evaluations among experts. Understanding this helps explain why some individuals may confidently make incorrect statements, while experts might hesitate to assert their knowledge confidently.