Confidence per se isn’t bad. It frees us from the paralysis by analysis. The moment when confidence turns into a problem is when it becomes overconfidence.

Overconfidence refers to the human tendency to be more confident in one’s behaviours, attributes and physical characteristics than one ought to be. Surveying drivers, Ola Svenson (1981) found that 80% of respondents rated themselves in the top 30% of all drivers.

Overconfidence may cause people to persist in situations where their expected outcome is poor. In some situations, this might ironically cause them to improve their outcomes via greater effort.

Nevertheless, this bias can be counterproductive and lead to “exploitable” behaviors.

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Almost all of us are being overconfident. Are you feeling different?

Take this test to find out if you’re overconfident.

PS: I am.



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  • Cristina

    I was feeling different, but Hey, guess what, I am overconfident to :)

  • http://armannd.com/ Titus-Armand

    Before testing I was also feeling different. “I’m not overconfident, I know it” I said to myself… and I scored 20%. :)

    What was your test score?

  • Cristina

    I was feeling different, but Hey, guess what, I am overconfident to :)

  • http://armannd.com/ Titus-Armand

    Before testing I was also feeling different. “I’m not overconfident, I know it” I said to myself… and I scored 20%. :)

    What was your test score?

  • Cristina

    I think I scored 40%… something like that :)

  • Cristina

    I think I scored 40%… something like that :)

  • http://armannd.com/ Titus-Armand

    Much better than me. Looks like I’m extremly overconfident!…

    I’m curious what the other readers scored. :)

  • http://armannd.com/ Titus-Armand

    Much better than me. Looks like I’m extremly overconfident!…

    I’m curious what the other readers scored. :)