In 1994, West Ham United were playing against Oxford United, when one of their players got injured. Their manager, Harry Redknapp, having used all his substitutes, turned to a West Ham fan in the crowd named Steve Davies, who’d spent most of the first half criticizing striker Lee Chapman. “Do you play as good as you talk?” Redknapp asked. “I’m better than that Chapman,” Davies replied, and so on to the pitch he went. Davies was likely indulging in what’s known as the “superiority illusion, ” a trait whereby we believe we’re above average at whatever we happen to set our mind to. Psychologist David Dunning has studied the effect for years, and argues that the majority of people succumb to the illusion in some form. The statistics bear it out: 65% of Americans believe they’re smarter than most and 90% percent of drivers think they’re better than average. When it comes to This story is from Kinfolk Issue Thirty-Seven Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 42 Anna Wiener Anna Wiener was on the path to Silicon Valley success. Then she pivoted. Allyssia Alleyne charts the making of a tech-skeptic. Arts & Culture Issue 42 Influencers Anonymous Instagram content creators answer a short survey about the influencer industry. Arts & Culture Issue 42 Crazy Busy There’s no rest for the aspirational. Arts & Culture Issue 42 The Goal Keepers Not your therapist, not your friend: What accounts for the remarkable rise of the life coach? Arts & Culture Issue 42 Torrey Peters The Detransition, Baby author is living her best life. Arts & Culture Issue 42 Trash Talk On wish-cycling and wishful thinking.
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