Average Americans Think They're Smarter Than the Average American

[Ichingcarpenter]

Fifty-five percent of Americans think that they are smarter than the average American, according to a new survey by YouGov, a research organization that uses online polling. In other words, as YouGov cleverly points out, the average American thinks that he or she is smarter than the average American.

A humble 34 percent of citizens say they are about as smart as everyone else, while a dispirited 4 percent say they are less intelligent than most people.

Men (24 percent) are more likely than women (15 percent) to say they are "much more intelligent" than the average American. White people are more likely to say the same than Hispanic and black people.

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So, this many smart people must mean that, on the whole, the United States ranks pretty high in intelligence, right?

Not quite. According to the survey, just 44 percent of Americans say that Americans are "averagely intelligent." People who make less than $40,000 a year are much more likely to say that their fellow Americans are intelligent, while those who make more than $100,000 are far more likely to say that Americans are unintelligent.

The results are not surprising. Western cultures have a habit of inflating their self-worth, past research has shown. The most competent individuals also tend to underestimate their ability, while incompetent people overestimate it. Not out of arrogance, but of ignorance—the worst performers often don't get negative feedback. In this survey, 28 percent of high school graduates say they are "slightly more intelligent" than average, while just 1 percent of people with doctoral degrees say they are "much less intelligent."

Of course, a Ph.D. doesn't necessarily measure intelligence, nor does how much money you make. Those factors, along with gender and race, may be better indicators of humblebrag ability than brainpower.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/domesticpolicy/average-americans-think-they-re-smarter-than-the-average-american-20140512

[hobbit709]

1. I KNOW I'm smarter than the average American and I have test results to prove it.

Though usually that's caused me more trouble than good.

[DetlefK]

3. Wait a minute. If I'm smarter than you and you are smarter than me...

Then I'm smarter than me.

Yeah!!!!!

[pinboy3niner]

5. Oh give it a rest, Yogi

[Orrex]

2. If only America were as smart as I think I am

[A Little Weird]

4. Dunning-Kruger effect

I read something recently that seems similar -although I think it referred more generally to skills and not just intelligence.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect

[lpbk2713]

6. There's probably a good George Carlin line that would apply real good here.

But it's too early in the day for me to look it up.

[RKP5637]

7. Yep, he definitely would have! Too bad the smartest person is no longer with us. I loved

George Carlin!