Egocentric Bias · Entry 34
Illusory Superiority – when you think you’re better than most people
Do you think you drive better than the average driver? Or that your decisions are more rational than most people’s? That’s Illusory Superiority – the tendency to overestimate your good qualities and underestimate your flaws compared to others.
Where it can show up
- Driving – most people believe they are above-average drivers (which is statistically impossible).
- Work – you think you’re more productive than your colleagues, even when no one else notices the difference.
- Intelligence – you assume you’re more logical or insightful than others while ignoring their strengths.
A practical countermeasure
- Compare yourself to real data, not just feelings – your self-assessment might be far from objective.
- Acknowledge that everyone has blind spots – if you think you don’t, that’s already a bias.
- Assess yourself honestly – ask others about your weaknesses and be open to hearing the truth.
