Self-evaluation bias: an alternative explanation to the Dunning-Kruger effect
(A2025-123438)

AUTHORS

Olivia Kim, Norwegian School of Economics

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we explore the phenomenon similar to that of the Dunning-Kruger effect in non-cognitive traits, such as generosity. We hypothesized that individuals who are objectively more generous would perceive themselves as less generous than they are (H1), while those who are less generous would perceive themselves as more generous than they are (H2). We give scenarios where each participant rates the likelihood of their behavior (objective measure), and we ask them to estimate the percentage of people that are more likely than themselves to take the action (subjective measure). The pretest results supported H1 and H2, showing that the more objectively generous an individual was, the less generous they evaluated themselves in specific scenarios. These findings suggest that the Dunning-Kruger effect might not fully apply to non-cognitive traits, such as generosity, and the mechanisms behind self-assessment in these areas require further exploration.