The Above Average Effect

Septy · January 19, 2016, 05:41:52 PM

This is something that has greatly interested me and is one of the reason why I've decided to go into the medical field.

The Illusiory Superiorty Effect https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illusory_superiority

Click on the link if you want to go more in depth. But in short, it states that an individual will reject that they are average (we all are average). And the individual will instead conclude that they are extremely above average and everyone else is below them, or rather, stupid.

However studies show that people who think this way actually have poor social skills and psychological maladjustment. As well as behaving more hostile and irritable to everyone. Which can all be link to anti-social behavior.

Just something to think about.

http://faculty.washington.edu/jdb/articles/Illusion%20and%20Well-Being.pdf

Winy · January 19, 2016, 05:43:25 PM

I tend to think of myself as below-average in most areas, to be honest.

Azumarill · January 19, 2016, 05:44:54 PM

Quote from: Connor on January 19, 2016, 05:43:25 PM

I tend to think of myself as below-average in most areas, to be honest.

Cadenza has moved on · January 19, 2016, 05:51:57 PM

Quote from: Connor on January 19, 2016, 05:43:25 PM

I tend to think of myself as below-average in most areas, to be honest.

Was that before of after you heard about this kind of bias though?

Anonymous (User Deleted) · January 19, 2016, 05:52:57 PM

Quote from: Azumarill on January 19, 2016, 05:44:54 PM

Quote from: Connor on January 19, 2016, 05:43:25 PM
I tend to think of myself as below-average in most areas, to be honest.

Winy · January 19, 2016, 05:54:52 PM

Quote from: Cadenza on January 19, 2016, 05:51:57 PM

Quote from: Connor on January 19, 2016, 05:43:25 PM
I tend to think of myself as below-average in most areas, to be honest.
Was that before of after you heard about this kind of bias though?

I was aware of the bias before, but it's not like it's continuously on my mind and I have to actively try to avoid it having an effect on me. I just don't really ever think of myself as "Good" at things no matter how experienced or efficient I get at them, for whatever reason.

rC · January 19, 2016, 09:45:01 PM

im honestly smarter than all of you. i graduated high school at 13 and i got my bachelors at 16. i'm currently working closely with elon musk on spacex and tesla, and i'm realistically the mastermind behind them both.

Casper · January 19, 2016, 10:07:37 PM

I don't get it. Cuz I do all of those things, on top of thinking I'm below other people.

🍁 Aria 🔮 · January 19, 2016, 10:15:05 PM

I've realized that I'm average since about middle school. People just don't understand that doing decently is about effort and not dicking about on your phone during lectures.

Elai · January 19, 2016, 11:00:51 PM

Explains a lot.

aREALgod · January 20, 2016, 02:25:59 AM

This thread just affirms to me my superiority over all of you. If you think yourself average, then you ARE average. If you hold yourself to a higher standard, then you stand above the rest (as I do above you people).

challengerX · January 20, 2016, 05:20:27 AM

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BaconShelf · January 20, 2016, 05:45:04 AM

Quote

However studies show that people who think this way actually have poor social skills and psychological maladjustment. As well as behaving more hostile and irritable to everyone. Which can all be link to anti-social behavior.

oh

More Than Mortal · January 20, 2016, 06:30:25 AM

Quote from: Septy on January 19, 2016, 05:41:52 PM

(we all are average).

Except we aren't, some people are just better or worse than others.

CoastalSet · January 20, 2016, 10:37:07 AM

That explains the teenage fedoras

Sandtrap · January 20, 2016, 11:28:42 AM

So I take it there's also a counterpart Below Average Effect as well?

People with some kind of smarts all too often not giving themselves any credit whatsoever and continually dismissing themselves as nothing of importance. Happens a lot, it seems.

Septy · January 20, 2016, 11:36:57 AM

Quote from: Imperial Apologist on January 20, 2016, 06:30:25 AM

Quote from: Septy on January 19, 2016, 05:41:52 PM
(we all are average).
Except we aren't, some people are just better or worse than others.

I'm talking about a large majority of people are average. There are some outliers.

challengerX · January 20, 2016, 11:46:33 AM

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Septy · January 20, 2016, 11:55:18 AM

Quote from: challengerX on January 20, 2016, 11:46:33 AM

Quote from: Septy on January 20, 2016, 11:36:57 AM
Quote from: Imperial Apologist on January 20, 2016, 06:30:25 AM
Quote from: Septy on January 19, 2016, 05:41:52 PM
(we all are average).
Except we aren't, some people are just better or worse than others.
I'm talking about a large majority of people are average. There are some outliers.
Don't fall off back pedaling so hard.

What?

challengerX · January 20, 2016, 11:56:23 AM

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Sandtrap · January 20, 2016, 11:57:12 AM

Quote from: Septy on January 20, 2016, 11:55:18 AM

Quote from: challengerX on January 20, 2016, 11:46:33 AM
Quote from: Septy on January 20, 2016, 11:36:57 AM
Quote from: Imperial Apologist on January 20, 2016, 06:30:25 AM
Quote from: Septy on January 19, 2016, 05:41:52 PM
(we all are average).
Except we aren't, some people are just better or worse than others.
I'm talking about a large majority of people are average. There are some outliers.
Don't fall off back pedaling so hard.
What?

He's calling you out on making such a big generalising statement and then easing off in a sly manner without just bluntly saying "ya got me, I dun goofed."

Septy · January 20, 2016, 11:59:01 AM

Quote from: challengerX on January 20, 2016, 11:56:23 AM

Quote from: Septy on January 20, 2016, 11:55:18 AM
Quote from: challengerX on January 20, 2016, 11:46:33 AM
Quote from: Septy on January 20, 2016, 11:36:57 AM
Quote from: Imperial Apologist on January 20, 2016, 06:30:25 AM
Quote from: Septy on January 19, 2016, 05:41:52 PM
(we all are average).
Except we aren't, some people are just better or worse than others.
I'm talking about a large majority of people are average. There are some outliers.
Don't fall off back pedaling so hard.
What?
"we are all average"

"I didn't mean everybody"

To be fair I was only talking about the people in this forum.

But ok lad, I made a mistake.

challengerX · January 20, 2016, 12:00:40 PM

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Sandtrap · January 20, 2016, 12:01:15 PM

Quote from: TR8Rshelf on January 20, 2016, 05:45:04 AM

Quote
However studies show that people who think this way actually have poor social skills and psychological maladjustment. As well as behaving more hostile and irritable to everyone. Which can all be link to anti-social behavior.

oh

There's that wonderful scary set of words that apparently make people piss themselves for no good reason.

Septy · January 20, 2016, 12:01:34 PM

Quote from: challengerX on January 20, 2016, 12:00:40 PM

Quote from: Septy on January 20, 2016, 11:59:01 AM
To be fair I was only talking about the people in this forum.
You'd still be completely fucking wrong.

Quote
I made a mistake.
Yes you did.

Why are you being so hostile over something so little.

Is it because I called you average.

CIS · January 20, 2016, 12:03:51 PM

Verbatim in a nutshell.

challengerX · January 20, 2016, 12:04:11 PM

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Septy · January 20, 2016, 12:05:22 PM

Quote from: challengerX on January 20, 2016, 12:04:11 PM

Quote from: Septy on January 20, 2016, 12:01:34 PM
Quote from: challengerX on January 20, 2016, 12:00:40 PM
Quote from: Septy on January 20, 2016, 11:59:01 AM
To be fair I was only talking about the people in this forum.
You'd still be completely fucking wrong.

Quote
I made a mistake.
Yes you did.
Why are you being so hostile over something so little.

Is it because I called you average.
Because not only are you wrong, you immediately backpedal.

So you think the majority of people are below average or something?

challengerX · January 20, 2016, 12:06:38 PM

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Septy · January 20, 2016, 12:07:33 PM

Quote from: challengerX on January 20, 2016, 12:06:38 PM

Quote from: Septy on January 20, 2016, 12:05:22 PM
Quote from: challengerX on January 20, 2016, 12:04:11 PM
Quote from: Septy on January 20, 2016, 12:01:34 PM
Quote from: challengerX on January 20, 2016, 12:00:40 PM
Quote from: Septy on January 20, 2016, 11:59:01 AM
To be fair I was only talking about the people in this forum.
You'd still be completely fucking wrong.

Quote
I made a mistake.
Yes you did.
Why are you being so hostile over something so little.

Is it because I called you average.
Because not only are you wrong, you immediately backpedal.
So you think the majority of people are below average or something?
How in the name of FUCK did you get that from my posts?

No, I think there are average and above average people. I'll leave it to you to amuse us all by figuring which category you're a part of.

And the majority of people are average. That's why it's called an average.