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MENTAL MODEL · M2893

Illusion of Understanding

Illusion of Understanding
Learn & MetacognitionHigh supportCognitive Science
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-31

CORE DEFINITION

Refers to the phenomenon where people, by constructing coherent stories to explain the past after the fact, mistakenly believe they understand how the world works and that the world is predictable. In reality, the world is much more random than we think.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Awe for complexity. Our explanations of the past are often just 'rationalized' narratives. Admitting 'I actually don't understand' is closer to truth than forcing an explanation.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

The illusion of understanding refers to people overestimating their understanding of how things work, until they are asked to actually explain it, revealing the emptiness. Typical example is the illusion of explanatory depth (Rozenblit & Keil 2002).

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Source support: Explicit

  • link
    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AI_anthropomorphismZH · Explicit
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