The Dunning Kruger Effect

[B/W Photodude]

There was a man once who robbed two banks and was arrested. He was shocked, because he was cover himself with lemon juice thinking he would be invisible! This got the attention of two researchers, Dunning and Kruger, who studied incompetnce and an individuals response to it. 

There was a research study done of drivers who were asked to rate themselves for their driving skills. 80% of the drivers rated themselves above average. A mathematical impossibility!

What Dunning and Kruger arrived at in their research was that very often, incompetant people or those failing certain tasks rate themselves much higher that they really are. Competent subjects tended to rate themselves much lower than where they were performing. And this became known as the Dunning Kruger effect. You can read more about this phenomenon in the links at the bottom.

I began wondering how this applies in the religious/spiritual world. A very long time ago, and today even Gallup cannot find this study, there was a newspaper article published about a study which surveyed people. Nearly 80% of those surveyed believed they were going to heaven, but only about 30% of their friends and family would be going to heaven!

This brought to my mind some of the events described in the Great Controversy regarding the endtime persecutions. It has been said that some of the worst of the persecutors would be those who had formerly been members of the remnant church. Jesus said,"They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." John 16:2 Talk about overestimating yourself! To be so great a "Christian" that you would feel empowered to take the lives of others because this is what God wants. Kind of like Paul when he was on his way to persecute the believers in Damascus.

On the other hand, the "competent" Christians, those who were being saved, feared that they would not be. In fact, one of their questions is, “Who shall be able to stand?”

So this verse, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." - 1 Corinthians 10:12, seems to be wise advice regarding how to estimate you situation with God.

Dunning Kruger effect
https://aeon.co/ideas/what-know-it-alls-dont-know-or-the-illusion-of-competence
https://www.damninteresting.com/unskilled-and-unaware-of-it/

[dgrimm60]

B/W PHOTODUDE

that was ans interesting article and study------ the only  way  any  one can be saved  is to have a  personal relationship  with  JESUS CHRIST

the only way that  can  happen  is to talk  to  JESUS(prayer)---and read his  word(the bible) every day 

dgrimm60

 

[phkrause]

8 hours ago, B/W Photodude said:

What Dunning and Kruger arrived at in their research was that very often, incompetant people or those failing certain tasks rate themselves much higher that they really are.

I can think of one person that fits that to a "T!" He seems to be in the news everyday proclaiming that every day!!

 

8 hours ago, B/W Photodude said:

This brought to my mind some of the events described in the Great Controversy regarding the endtime persecutions. It has been said that some of the worst of the persecutors would be those who had formerly been members of the remnant church. Jesus said,"They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." John 16:2 Talk about overestimating yourself! To be so great a "Christian" that you would feel empowered to take the lives of others because this is what God wants. Kind of like Paul when he was on his way to persecute the believers in Damascus.

Exactly!!!

 

8 hours ago, B/W Photodude said:

On the other hand, the "competent" Christians, those who were being saved, feared that they would not be. In fact, one of their questions is, “Who shall be able to stand?”

 

8 hours ago, B/W Photodude said:

So this verse, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." - 1 Corinthians 10:12, seems to be wise advice regarding how to estimate you situation with God.

[Gail]

Oh, yeah! EGW nailed it with her viewpoint on the subject of self