On the adaptive advantage of always being right (even when one is not)

Gjersoe, Nathalia and Hood, Bruce, M. (2009). On the adaptive advantage of always being right (even when one is not). Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 32(6) pp. 521–522.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X09991221

Abstract

We propose another positive illusion – overconfidence in the generalisability of one’s theory – that fits with McKay & Dennett’s (M&D’s) criteria for adaptive misbeliefs. This illusion is pervasive in adult reasoning but we focus on its prevalence in children’s developing theories. It is a strongly held conviction arising from normal functioning of the doxastic system that confers adaptive advantage on the individual.

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