You’re Not Smart Just Because You’re Loud: The Psychology of the Dunning-Kruger Effect

By Trinity Barnette

Ever meet someone so confident in their ignorance that you start to question your own intelligence? Like… they’ll say something so confidently wrong that you actually pause and think, “Wait… am I the one who’s confused?”

You’re not. That’s the Dunning-Kruger effect in action — a psychological phenomenon that explains why the people who know the least often believe they know the most.

And the real gag? The people who are smart tend to doubt themselves constantly. Let’s talk about it.

What Is the Dunning-Kruger Effect?

In simple terms:

The less someone knows, the more they think they know.

And the more someone knows, the more they realize they don’t know everything.

It’s a bias in the brain. If you lack skill or knowledge in a certain area, you also lack the awareness to realize how much you don’t know. So instead of feeling unsure, you feel confident — way too confident.

Meanwhile, smart people tend to overthink, double-check, question themselves, and give room for nuance. That makes them sound less sure — even though they’re more informed.

Why Is This So Common?

Because confidence is louder than competence — especially online.

Social media rewards people who speak with conviction, not accuracy. If you say something complex or uncertain, it doesn’t go viral. But if you say something bold and dumb in all caps? Instant traction.

And when people don’t know much about a topic, they can’t spot flaws in their thinking — because they don’t even know what they’re missing.

It’s like trying to edit an essay in a language you don’t speak.

Real-Life Examples

• People who barely graduated high school trying to debunk climate science

• Someone who watched one true crime doc calling the jury stupid and the lawyers corrupt

• People on TikTok diagnosing others with narcissism after learning the word five minutes ago

It’s not just ignorance — it’s unearned confidence. That’s what makes it dangerous.

Why Smart People Doubt Themselves

If you ever feel like you’re the dumb one because you second-guess everything, read this closely:

You’re probably the exact opposite.

People with actual knowledge tend to:

• Be more aware of the limits of their understanding

• Recognize nuance and gray areas

• Worry about being wrong

• Stay quiet unless they’re sure

That’s not stupidity. That’s called intellectual humility.

So… How Do You Know If You’re Falling Into It?

Ask yourself:

• Do I actually understand this subject or just have strong feelings about it?

• Could I explain this to someone else in detail?

• Have I considered opposing viewpoints or evidence?

• Am I open to changing my mind if I’m wrong?

If your answer to most of those is “no,” maybe don’t speak with your full chest just yet.

Final Thought

We all have blind spots. We all misjudge ourselves sometimes.

But being aware of that? That’s real intelligence.

So the next time someone is yelling confidently and making no sense, don’t let them shake you.

Being loud doesn’t make them right.

Being unsure doesn’t make you stupid.

And admitting you don’t know something might be the smartest thing you’ll ever do.