Technology As Innovator

“I’m above average!”

Definition

The Lake Wobegon effect is the human tendency to overestimate one’s achievements and capabilities in relation to others.

It is named for the fictional town of Lake Wobegon from the radio series A Prairie Home Companion, where, according to Garrison Keillor, “all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average”.

In a similar way, a large majority of people claim to be above average. Experiments and surveys conducted to hundred thousands people from a variety of classes and from many background, have repeatedly shown that most people believe that they possess attributes that are better or more desirable than average.

Statistics

In achivement-driven societies like the US, the percentage of people showing Lake Wobegon effect is 80%. In other countries where people are taught to be humble, the rate is 70%.

The effect is socially conditioned

The effect reflects ingroup bias and wishful thinking. In contrast, people who admit that they are worse than average are considered self-handicapped and their behavior is treated as socially false consensus.

Logical reasoning

Mean of a series

If the GDP per capita of one country is X, anyone who make more than X are above average.

Binary series

10 students take the examination which result is either 1 (pass) or 0 (fail). Assuming 1 student fails, all other 9 are automatically above average.

System contained in a system

It is possible that all MIT students are above the average of a collection of universities.

Attitude

It is easier for people to spot others’ mistakes than their own, and when the experience becomes a reflex, it creates a tendency to perceive one’s self as superior to others.

Lake Wobegon effect shows human attitude toward survival: the stronger live.

Parents can treat their children as “above average” in order to boost their self-esteem.

Last word

Dare to be Wobegonally different by admitting that you’re not above average?