Personal contact, individuation, and the better-than-average effect.

Abstract

Research in which people compare themselves with an average peer has consistently shown that people evaluate themselves more favorably than they evaluate others. Seven studies were conducted to demonstrate that the magnitude of this better-than-average effect depends on the level of abstraction in the comparison. These studies showed that people were less biased when they compared themselves with an individuated target than when they compared themselves with a nonindividuated target, namely, the average college student. The better-than-average effect was reduced more when the observer had personal contact with the comparison target than when no personal contact was established. Differences in the magnitude of the better-than-average effect could not be attributed to the contemporaneous nature of the target's presentation, communication from the target, perceptual vividness, implied evaluation, or perceptions of similarity.

The psychology of intelligence analysis: Drivers of prediction accuracy in world politics.

“…Self-assessments can be highly inaccurate, often occurring as inflated self-ratings of competence, with most people seeing themselves as above average (Alicke, Klotz, Breitenbecher, Yurak, & Vredenburg, 1995;Dunning, 2005;Pronin, 2009). For example, people overestimate their own ability to offer a quality explanation even in familiar domains (Alter, Oppenheimer, & Zemla, 2010;Fernbach, Rogers, Fox, & Sloman, 2013;Fisher & Keil, 2014;Rozenblit & Keil, 2002).…”

Keeping up with the Joneses: A field study of the relationships among upward, lateral, and downward comparisons and pay level satisfaction.

“…One possible explanation for this finding is that most people consider themselves above-average performers and therefore expect that an upward comparison is relevant (Alicke et al, 1995). A second plausible explanation is that an upward comparison provides useful information for one's assessment of an attribute.…”

The Dunning-Kruger Effect and SIUC University’s Aviation Students

“…These studies largely focused on social predictions; other studies have also applied these effects to college students and their ability to predict their performance in college (Everson & Tobias, 1998). Although little research exists on the Dunning-Kruger Effect in aviation and more specifically collegiate flight training, it seems that based on the previous studies mentioned the Dunning-Kruger Effect is prevalent in college students (Alicke et al, 1995;Everson & Tobias, 1998;Kruger & Dunning, 1999) as well as pilots (Casner, 2008).…”

“…This principle has been referred to as the better-than-average effect. The better-than-average effect provides evidence that people, in general, have unrealistic positive images of themselves compared to their peers (Alicke, Klotz, Breitenbecher, Yurak, & Vredenburg, 1995). Over the years, many studies have been conducted in social psychology concerning the idea of the better-than-average effect (Alicke, 1985;Allison, Messick, & Goethals, 1989;Codol, 1975;Cross, 1977;Dunning, Meyerowitz, & Holzberg, 1989;Messick, Bloom, Boldizar, & Samuelson, 1985).…”

“…Over the years, many studies have been conducted in social psychology concerning the idea of the better-than-average effect (Alicke, 1985;Allison, Messick, & Goethals, 1989;Codol, 1975;Cross, 1977;Dunning, Meyerowitz, & Holzberg, 1989;Messick, Bloom, Boldizar, & Samuelson, 1985). Alicke et al (1995) conducted seven studies to demonstrate the magnitude of the better-than-average effect. It was determined that the effect depends on the level of abstraction in the comparison.…”