Learning is a wonderful thing. It helps us become less ignorant, develop more empathy, improve our health, and even reduce crime rates (Feinstein, 2008). However, there’s a danger in just a little bit of knowledge. When we begin to learn a new topic, we get a dopamine rush—a thrill of excitement from gaining new information. Unfortunately, this excitement can lead us to become overconfident in what we know.

This phenomenon is the “ignorance of ignorance,” or the Dunning-Kruger effect. That is, the less we know about a subject, the less we realize how much we don’t know. It’s not until we gain more expertise that we can accurately assess our knowledge. This is tricky because it creates a double dilemma: Not only does our incomplete knowledge lead us to incorrect conclusions, but these same errors prevent us from recognizing our mistakes.

The Dunning-Kruger effect is widespread, and it can lead to poor decision-making and a fixed mindset. We often rely on what we think is rational but is, in fact, still gut instinct. This overconfidence can also make us less likely to pursue further learning or professional growth because we already feel accomplished in the subject. This may explain why we see so many armchair experts, podcasters, and influencers sharing quick “did you know” facts while the comments section is filled with “it’s not that simple” or “you’re missing the nuance.”

Unfortunately, we all fall victim to the Dunning-Kruger effect. So, how can........

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