What is the Dunning-Kruger effect?

The Dunning-Kruger effect is accurately described as a cognitive bias where individuals with low ability at a task overestimate their own competence. This phenomenon occurs because they lack the necessary skills to recognize their own deficits, leading them to believe they perform better than they actually do.

This explanation captures the essence of why option B is the most appropriate choice. It emphasizes how individuals with limited knowledge or ability misjudge their competence, which is central to understanding the Dunning-Kruger effect. It highlights the disconnect between self-assessment and actual ability, a crucial aspect of this cognitive bias in social psychology.

Other options do not encapsulate this definition accurately. For example, underestimating one's abilities, as suggested by another choice, implies a lack of self-confidence rather than an overestimation. Similarly, a misconception about intelligence is too broad and does not specifically relate to the self-appraisal errors identified by the Dunning-Kruger effect. Lastly, the reference to measuring competence misaligns with the concept, as the Dunning-Kruger effect pertains more to self-perceptions than to actual assessments of skill or knowledge.