Seth's Blog : The Massie Effect

The Massie Effect

Put this one next to Dunning Kruger, which shows that people of low ability traditionally overrate how talented they are.

The Massie Effect is the tendency of people who support good causes to believe they are in the minority.

A study at Princeton showed that almost 80% of Americans believe we should take action on the climate, but those people believe that only 37% of their fellow Americans agree with them.

Feeling like an overlooked minority can let us off the hook. It can give us a chance to embrace our imagined position as leaders. But mostly, it undermines the confidence we need to actually take action.

If you care, it’s likely others do too.