I wondered if this bias is really a manifestation of holding two contradictory ideas (a la belief in belief in belief). I wonder because, when past me was making this exact mistake, I notice that it tended to be a case of having a wide range of possible skill rank coupled with a low desire for accuracy.
If I think that my IQ is between 100 and 80 then I can have it both ways. I don’t know that for sure, so I can brag: “Oh my IQ is somewhere below 100.” because there is still a chance that their IQ is 100. However, if I am bout to be presented with an IQ test, I am tempted to be humble and say 80, because the test is probably going to prove me wrong in a positive way. That way I get to seem humble and smart, rather than overconfident and dumb.
Why are we surprised that the subjects were still trying to act is high status ways when they weren’t being watched? This isn’t like an experiment where I’m more likely to steal a candy bar if I’m anonymous. My reward for acting high status when no one is watching, is that I get to think of myself as a high status actor even when other people aren’t watching. I always have an audience of at least one person. myself.
I wondered if this bias is really a manifestation of holding two contradictory ideas (a la belief in belief in belief). I wonder because, when past me was making this exact mistake, I notice that it tended to be a case of having a wide range of possible skill rank coupled with a low desire for accuracy.
If I think that my IQ is between 100 and 80 then I can have it both ways. I don’t know that for sure, so I can brag: “Oh my IQ is somewhere below 100.” because there is still a chance that their IQ is 100. However, if I am bout to be presented with an IQ test, I am tempted to be humble and say 80, because the test is probably going to prove me wrong in a positive way. That way I get to seem humble and smart, rather than overconfident and dumb.
Why are we surprised that the subjects were still trying to act is high status ways when they weren’t being watched? This isn’t like an experiment where I’m more likely to steal a candy bar if I’m anonymous. My reward for acting high status when no one is watching, is that I get to think of myself as a high status actor even when other people aren’t watching. I always have an audience of at least one person. myself.