The Illusion of Explanatory Depth: Why Our Understanding Is Shallower Than We Think

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The illusion of explanatory depth is a cognitive bias where people overestimate how well they understand complex systems or concepts. Individuals tend to believe they can explain how things work in detail, but when asked to do so, they often fall short. This gap between perceived and actual knowledge affects everyday reasoning and decision-making. The phenomenon has been studied by cognitive scientists and is documented by behavioral research organizations such as The Decision Lab. Recognizing this bias can help people develop more accurate self-assessments and improve critical thinking.

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