I watched the early rounds of American Idol this year, and was struck by how many people think they are good singers, so good that they have a chance in the American Idol competition. But in many cases the people who hear them sing think they are so bad that they laugh about it.
It makes me wonder: How could people’s self-evaluation be so bad? How could they think they are excellent, when they are really terrible?
Singing is one of those fields where there isn’t a lot of objective evaluation in our daily lives, unless you are a professional. And if your friends think you are bad at it, you will rarely get that feedback, out of politeness.
Then it made me wonder: What other fields are like this? What else do people do where they think they are world-class, but might actually be very bad?
The first one that comes to my mind is driving. I’ve heard surveys that found that most people think they are above average drivers. In some ways it is a lot like singing — there is little direct feedback on your skill, and even in cases where there is feedback (honking horns, tailgaters trying to push you to go faster) it can be passed off as the other guy’s rudeness, impatience or the other’s poor driving habits. Traffic tickets and accidents do help mark the worst offenders, but even in those cases they can blame it on the other guy, or “the speed limit was too low for the conditions” etc.
People probably have a more accurate evaluation of their math ability, because of objective feedback in high-school classes and tests. But conversely, writing ability is much more subjective and poor grades are easier to blame on the grader, as biased or unimaginative.
And right up there near the top when listing inaccurate self-evaluations must be political and economic astuteness. Many people are passionate about their political beliefs, and their ideas of the best way to move forward in an uncertain economy. “Fewer laws, less government control!” “More regulations of the out-of-control banking industry!” “It’s obvious that the wealthy should pay more taxes to help the poor!” “If I’ve earned this money I should be able to keep it — it’s not my fault if those poor people were playing while I was working to get ahead!” “More Stimulus!” “Less Stimulus!” The only feedback we get on these ideas is listening to other people’s ideas, and we usually filter out those we disagree with.
What’s right? Based on watching American Idol, I’m sure there are many people out there passionately convinced that they know what’s right, but their beliefs are based on poorly thought-out positions. They all think they are political/economic experts, but their self-evaluation is in many cases as poor as the tone-deaf screecher hoping to be the next American Idol.
7 responses so far ↓
1 Dale // Feb 17, 2010 at 7:03 pm
I must have an awful self-evaluation. Sometimes I have a hard time finding the ‘self-help’ section in a bookstore and it seems to defeat the purpose to ask someone where it is.
2 Don // Feb 17, 2010 at 7:40 pm
What you talking bout Willis? 😛
3 Donna // Feb 17, 2010 at 8:49 pm
I think looks and intelligence fall into this, too. Everyone wants to think they are smarter than average and better looking than average.
4 Mom // Feb 17, 2010 at 10:43 pm
Not me! I think that I was a poor wife, a poor mother, a poor nurse, a poor cook, not good at saving money, or sticking up for my rights (always felt that I was probably wrong), and couldn’t sing. I was good in school subjects–math, spelling and English, both reading and writing, but terrible at science, and all sports, except hop scotch and Jacks ( that would go far on a resume!). I think that I was a good driver. I like people, except sick people. You can see why an adviser would probably have been of benefit to me.
I love bright children, and think that I could have worked with the gifted ones, if there had been that classification 65 years ago. But there was a war and I took the path of least resistance.
Now, diagnose me if you can.
5 Richard // Feb 18, 2010 at 7:42 am
Interesting musings all, but this subject is way too philosophical and psychological for me.
6 Daryl // Feb 18, 2010 at 10:17 am
So Richard, it sounds like you don’t have an unreasonable opinion of your philosophical and psychological capabilities. In fact, I think you either underestimate them, are too humble, or too bored by the discussion.
7 Don // Feb 19, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Well I know I can’t sing and I’m not terribly good looking. I’m a little above average intelligence based on IQ tests I’ve taken.
As for politics yes, I think I’m right and those on the left are wrong, unlike a lot of liberals who think Conservatives are evil. But I also understand those on the left truly believe they are right.
I often wonder how those on the left can think they have the right to decide how much other should pay in taxes and how much they should be allowed to make.
I guess that’s just a person’s value system but it must not have that much to do with how you were brought up considering Daryl and I were raised pretty much the same and we are diametrically opposed politically. I’m not really that sure where Donna, Dale, and Richard are. I think Donna and Richard would say they are right of center.
I am actually a libertarian which is quite a bit different from a Republican.