Research Hit: More Confident but Less Competent
Recent research shows that socially dominant individuals display more confidence in their decisions but are actually not more accurate
So, confidence does not translate into competence?
No, but we do associate confidence with competence. And indeed confidence can be a sign of competence - this is where this research is interesting. It compares those who are classed as “socially dominant” with the accuracy of their choices.
When you say “socially dominant” you you mean arrogant A*@#*!@s?!
Now, now, but they may certainly be unpleasant people to work with. Simply they see and put themselves in higher social positions.
What was this research?
This research by Betlova and Martin of Kent University in the UK conducted three studies into individuals and compared personality traits and social dominance with confidence and accuracy of decisions and memory tasks.
What they found is that socially dominant individuals were more confident in their decisions or choices, irrespective of accuracy.
Oh dear, so confidence does not reflect competence after all.
Not in these individuals. As the researchers write:
“Therefore, greater social dominance may also be associated with greater confidence in a decision, regardless of whether the decision is optimal”.
But in an interesting twist, they also found no differences in men or women.
Oh, actually I was thinking of men!
Yes, it is a trait we associate with men, but women can also be socially dominant and the decision-making pattern here was the same.
Doesn’t this confidence also allow them to be socially dominant in the first place?
Precisely. This was also noted by the researchers:
“Our findings uncover how socially dominant individuals may traverse society, acquire and possibly even retain positions of social power and influence.”
Socially dominant individuals gain access to hierarchical positions through their social dominance and confidence, not through their competence (but they may feel competent).
Well, that explains a few things in business and society, not to mention politics.
Indeed, indeed.
This adds to the bunch of research into overconfidence and how those with dark triad traits are biased or make bad decisions.
Reference
A. Belotelova, A.K. Martin.
Confidence does not equal competence: Socially dominant individuals are more confident in their decisions without being more accurate.
Personality and Individual Differences, 2025; 236: 113037
DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2024.113037