1st Edition

Self-Insight Roadblocks and Detours on the Path to Knowing Thyself

By David Dunning Copyright 2005
240 Pages 4 B/W Illustrations
by Psychology Press

244 Pages 4 B/W Illustrations
by Psychology Press

244 Pages 4 B/W Illustrations
by Psychology Press

People base thousands of choices across a lifetime on the views they hold of their skill and moral character, yet a growing body of research in psychology shows that such self-views are often misguided or misinformed. Anyone who has dealt with others in the classroom, in the workplace, in the medical office, or on the therapist’s couch has probably experienced people whose opinions of themselves... Read more
Thales’s Lament: On the Vagaries of Self-Assessment. Ignorance as Bliss. Clues for Competence. The Dearest Teacher. False Uniqueness. In a Word. The Merest Decency. Beyond One’s Self. Reflections on Self-Reflection.

Biography

Dunning, David

‘This is a superbly written volume illuminating a fundamentally significant human shortcoming, a curious inability to “know oneself” or gain true insights into the inner workings of one’s mind. Provocative, entertaining, and compelling, this work represents experimental social psychology at its finest.’ - Arie W. Kruglanski, University of Maryland

‘People are often their own worst enemies. Nothing stands in the way of achieving our goals as much as our lack of insight into our own flaws, weaknesses, and shortcomings. This book is a must-read for people who aspire to achieve the self-knowledge that is essential to accomplishing their most cherished goals, or want to understand why others seem so blinded to their shortcomings. Dunning is an outstanding scientist and an entertaining writer. His explorations into failures of self-knowledge are a fascinating read.’ - Jennifer Crocker, University of Michigan