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What is Dunning-Kruger effect? Internet post claims it has found secret to success for George Santos, MTG, and Lauren Boebert

The correlation between the Dunning-Kruger effect and the success of Reps Santos, Greene, and Boebert was highlighted by a user on X

WASHINGTON, DC: An internet post has chalked up the success of Representatives George Santos (R-New York), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia), and Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado) to something called the Dunning–Kruger effect.

This cognitive bias suggests that individuals with limited competence in a specific domain tend to overestimate their abilities, with some researchers noting a parallel tendency for high performers to underestimate their skills.

Understanding the Dunning–Kruger Effect

The Dunning–Kruger effect, initially studied by David Dunning and Justin Kruger in 1999, assesses self-assessment against objective performance.

While often misunderstood in popular culture, this phenomenon has been explored across various tasks, including logical reasoning, grammar, social skills, business, politics, medicine, driving, aviation, spatial memory, examinations, and literacy.

The correlation between the Dunning-Kruger effect and the success of Reps Santos, Greene, and Boebert was highlighted by a social media user on X (formerly Twitter), who posted a video captioned, "The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which people with limited competence in a particular domain overestimate their abilities. Well, this sums up George Santos, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Lauren Boebert's special kind of crazy."

Social media reactions

The theory garnered support from others online, who added their two cents.

"Perfection," one responded.

"They make Congress a very bad joke!!" another wrote.

"I consider myself a civics/legal procedure novice, despite the fact I grew up around lawyers and worked with them most of my life. So when they speak, I’m sitting here thinking, 'is it possible for someone to be this dumb? Or am I smarter at this than I thought?'" someone else offered.

Mired in individual controversies

However, the controversy surrounding these Republican Representatives extends beyond the theoretical application of cognitive biases. Over the past couple of months, all three have faced their fair share of public scrutiny.

In September, Lauren Boebert issued an apology for her behavior during a performance of the play "Beetlejuice" in Denver, admitting that she "fell short of my values."

Boebert faced criticism not only for vaping inside a theater, contrary to earlier claims, but also for her misleading statements to reporters.

Video evidence contradicted her campaign's manager, revealing her vaping in the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Boebert's personal life has also been in the spotlight, with a divorce filing in April and controversial surveillance footage capturing her with a male companion engaging in inappropriate behavior during the play, per The Colorado Sun.

Rep Santos, on the other hand, is grappling with potential expulsion from Congress. The House Ethics Committee released a report earlier this month detailing allegations of Santos using campaign funds for personal enrichment.

The report outlined a range of expenditures, including Botox treatments, trips to Atlantic City, designer goods, and transactions on the adult content platform OnlyFans. Investigators described their findings as a "complex web of unlawful activity," per the Associated Press.

Meanwhile, Marjorie Taylor Greene finds herself isolated within her own party, engaging in public disputes with fellow Republicans. Greene took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize Republicans in Congress for what she sees as a failure to hold the current administration accountable.

"Republicans across America are sick and tired of Republicans in Congress who never hold this administration accountable for destroying our borders and putting Americans in danger. I don't go to D.C. to be friends with the spineless Republicans who never fight for our values," she recently posted.

Her comments contribute to an ongoing conflict within the GOP, exacerbating tensions already heightened by the recent House speakership quagmire.

Greene's departure from the Freedom Caucus and clashes with Lauren Boebert and other right-wing congress members have added to the internal divisions, even prompting Florida Rep. Byron Donalds to criticize her for airing controversial views in public, Newsweek reported.