Why Technical Experts Fall for Dunning-Kruger Effect

What Happened A user on Reddit’s “Explain Like I’m Five” forum posed an intriguing question about the Dunning-Kruger effect in technical fields, sparking discussion about why professionals in complex domains like medicine often overestimate their abilities despite acknowledging their fields’ vast scope. The post referenced specific research findings showing that 75% of medical interns believed they possessed teaching-level competence, while objective assessments revealed only 20% actually performed at that standard. Similarly, surgeons frequently develop overconfidence after performing approximately 20 operations, mistakenly believing they have mastered their craft.