What is the above average effect? Also known as illusory superiority A cognitive bias whereby individuals overestimate their own qualities and abilities, relative to others US college board (1976)-asked people to rate themselves on characteristics as above or below average 70% of people rated themselves as having above average leadership qualities Stevenson (1981) surveyed Swedish and US student drivers 93% of US and 69% of Swedish put themselves in the top 50% for driving skills Wilson & Ross (2001) P's rated themselves and an acquaintance at 2 points in time Rated themselves as significantly better than previously but not for their friends What is a self serving bias? Any cognitive or perceptual process that is distorted by the need to maintain and enhance self-esteem. When individuals reject the validity of negative feedback, focus on their strengths and achievements but overlook their faults and failures 'I did badly because of other factors but I did well because I'm awesome' Means we disassociate ourselves with the negative aspects of our lives (Weiner 1985) See also: self handicapping (social psychology) What is naive realism? Bias that assumes our actions are correct False consensus: overestimate how many people share your opinion or how many people do the bad things you do False uniqueness: underestimate the commonality of our positive traits (I'm uncommonly good at this) Who investigated naïve realism? Ross et al (1977) P's asked to wear sandwich board and humiliating costume Asked what they thought of the others if they agreed and vice versa People who agreed said the others were scared of embarrassment and weak People who refused said people who agreed were show-offs Whatever you choose is the right choice