Not Your Average Joe

Did you know you’re just as law-abiding as the prisoner finishing his 10-year-sentence in a few months? You probably don’t think that’s true. And it might not be. But a little something called the “superiority illusion” seen in the large majority of our North American population accounts for the fact that you think you’re a better person than that prisoner and for that prisoner to think he’s just as good as someone outside of the prison system (if not better).

Otherwise known as the “better than average effect” (BTAE), the superiority illusion is a very interesting belief that approximately 90% of people hold. Ask just about anyone to compare themselves to the next person, or the “average” person, and they’ll gladly inform you they’re smarter, funnier, better looking, more caring and even a better driver than the next guy. Maintaing this belief can be great for your self-esteem, your confidence, increase perseverance during a difficult task, and help you overcome obstacles.

It’s all fine and dandy until someone states the obvious — it is impossible for this many people to be better than the average. The average is, after all, a composite of everyone’s score on a certain trait, taking into account either extremes of the scale. Unfortunately, on at least one side of the average, one group must be composed of the lesser. Somewhere, someone’s got to be wrong.

When rating another person, the correlation between rating and reality is quite large; however, when rating ourselves we are prone to taking our motives, intentions, morals and circumstances into consideration resulting in a rather low correlation. This can serve as form of self-protection, since self-enhancement shields us from negative self-talk and allows us to avoid discouragement. By dodging these feelings, we might also be skipping out on bigger problems like depression and anxiety. Those suffering from these mental health issues are actually likely to underrate themselves in comparison to others. Which is better? Who’s to say? Sounds like being wrong and feeling good about it is preferred over being wrong and feeling bad about it, though.

To get a better look at yourself, try to think of someone you admire for their work, qualities, achievements and lifestyle — see if you match up or get anywhere close. We tend to pick and choose who our “average” person is when making the comparison with ourselves and that person conveniently tends to not be Bill Gates or Oprah Winfrey.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2014/03/social-psychology

http://www.livescience.com/26914-why-we-are-all-above-average.html