August 1999 PMID 10474208

Lake Wobegon be gone! The "below-average effect" and the egocentric nature of comparative ability judgments.

J Kruger

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Mentions

19
Peak: 3 in May 2021
across 4 sources since Aug 2017

Extended reach

55,301
potential audience

Total likes

380

Video views

22,142

Mentions per month

Aug 2017 – Feb 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter8 posts
  • News8 articles
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Blogs1 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions reflect a strong interest in the psychological concepts presented, as seen in mentions of the 'below-average effect' and references to Kruger's work; the tone suggests an appreciation for the research's implications. Participants actively analyze how people tend to self-assess and overlook others' abilities, utilizing thoughtful language that conveys engagement and recognition of its broader social relevance.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussion participants acknowledge the validity of the article's findings regarding self-assessment biases, evident in comments about how people focus on their own skills or compare themselves without considering others.

InterestHigh interest

The discussions demonstrate a high level of curiosity and engagement, with posts referencing specific concepts like the 'below-average effect' and mentioning key researchers like Kruger, indicating genuine interest in the topic.

EngagementModerate engagement

Posts include references to studies, summaries, and interpretations, showing participants actively engaging with the research and its implications, rather than just expressing superficial opinions.

ImpactModerate impact

Although the discussion mainly centers on understanding biases, some remarks hint at the importance of recognizing these effects in real-world scenarios, suggesting potential influence on self-perception and societal judgments.

Abstract in brief

  • Most people tend to believe their abilities are above average, partly because they focus mainly on their own skills when comparing themselves to others and overlook the abilities of their peers.
  • This behavior leads to an "above-average effect" in areas where skills are generally high, but a "below-average effect" in areas with lower skills, depending on the context.
  • When people are cognitively burdened, they become even more biased towards their own abilities, relying heavily on their initial self-assessment and failing to properly consider others' skills, which questions how universal this "above-average" perception truly is.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
銀こんにゃく
@img2img · X

参考文献、面白いので興味のある方は是非。 https://t.co/c62Ts748WF https://t.co/QVc4XFwEvj https://t.co/xm3tkUlZha

Aug 19, 2019 · 7 likes · 1 share · 1,752 followers View post →
Max Korbmacher
@KorbmacherMax · X

1.5 weeks left for to

May 24, 2021 · 1 like · 2 shares · 250 followers View post →
Jordan James Etem
@JordanJamesEtem · X

@WillManidis Kruger, J. (1999). Lake Wobegon be gone! The" below-average effect" and the egocentric nature of comparative ability judgments. Journal of personality and social psychology, 77(2), 221.

Jul 28, 2021 · 12,639 followers View post →
Gilad Feldman
@giladfeldman · X

RT @KorbmacherMax: 1.5 weeks left for to

May 24, 2021 · 2 shares · 6,043 followers View post →
Gilad Feldman
@giladfeldman · X

(Twitter prediction markets #9) Will it replicate? Kruger (1999) "below-average effect" and the egocentric nature of comparative ability judgments. JPSP, 1052 citations https://t.co/xfF2sW5xmk

May 14, 2020 · 6,043 followers View post →
Carey Morewedge
@morewedge · X

@AlexPrusator @tressiemcphd People think driving is easy, and people tend to focus on their absolute skill levels when answering these kinds of questions. They don't think about how their skill compares to others' driving ability. https://t.co/wBLCB0FiIH https://t.co/9SZX7vTeS2

Feb 9, 2022 · 4,724 followers View post →

All mentions

Carey Morewedge
@morewedge · X

@AlexPrusator @tressiemcphd People think driving is easy, and people tend to focus on their absolute skill levels when answering these kinds of questions. They don't think about how their skill compares to others' driving ability. https://t.co/wBLCB0FiIH https://t.co/9SZX7vTeS2

Feb 9, 2022 · 4,724 followers View post →
Jordan James Etem
@JordanJamesEtem · X

@WillManidis Kruger, J. (1999). Lake Wobegon be gone! The" below-average effect" and the egocentric nature of comparative ability judgments. Journal of personality and social psychology, 77(2), 221.

Jul 28, 2021 · 12,639 followers View post →
Gilad Feldman
@giladfeldman · X

RT @KorbmacherMax: 1.5 weeks left for to

May 24, 2021 · 2 shares · 6,043 followers View post →
Thomas Rhys Evans @ThomasRhysEvans@mas.to
@ThomasRhysEvans · X

RT @KorbmacherMax: 1.5 weeks left for to

May 24, 2021 · 2 shares · 1,160 followers View post →
Max Korbmacher
@KorbmacherMax · X

1.5 weeks left for to

May 24, 2021 · 1 like · 2 shares · 250 followers View post →
Gilad Feldman
@giladfeldman · X

(Twitter prediction markets #9) Will it replicate? Kruger (1999) "below-average effect" and the egocentric nature of comparative ability judgments. JPSP, 1052 citations https://t.co/xfF2sW5xmk

May 14, 2020 · 6,043 followers View post →
銀こんにゃくの勉強垢
@psy_rep · X

RT @__O72: 参考文献、面白いので興味のある方は是非。 https://t.co/c62Ts748WF https://t.co/QVc4XFwEvj https://t.co/xm3tkUlZha

Aug 19, 2019 · 1 share · 443 followers View post →
銀こんにゃく
@img2img · X

参考文献、面白いので興味のある方は是非。 https://t.co/c62Ts748WF https://t.co/QVc4XFwEvj https://t.co/xm3tkUlZha

Aug 19, 2019 · 7 likes · 1 share · 1,752 followers View post →
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