Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford The Dunning Kruger Hijack (and Other Criminally Stupid Acts)
Mar 26, 2021
In this engaging discussion, actor Jeffrey Wright, known for his roles in Hunger Games, Westworld, and James Bond films, portrays Ethiopian Airlines captain Leul Abate during a hijacking incident. They delve into the Dunning-Kruger effect, exploring how people often misjudge their abilities—such as hijackers insisting on an impossible flight. The conversation includes hilarious anecdotes about inept criminals and reflects on the broader implications of our ignorance in high-stakes situations, highlighting the need for self-awareness.
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The Dunning-Kruger Hijack
- Three drunk men hijacked Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961, demanding to be flown to Australia.
- The pilot, Leul Abate, knew the plane lacked sufficient fuel, but they refused to believe him.
The Lemon Juice Bank Robber
- MacArthur Wheeler robbed banks believing lemon juice made him invisible to cameras.
- He tested this theory with a Polaroid camera and, not appearing in the photo, believed it worked.
Incompetence and Unawareness
- David Dunning was intrigued by Wheeler not just for his incompetence, but his unawareness of it.
- This sparked Dunning and Kruger's research on how people perceive their own competence.
