Suppose that you are a terrible athlete, you were born with asthma, and you are a fantastic poker player. Research suggests that, if you have the same tendencies as most people, you would probably ____/
A) think that asthma is even rarer than it really is
B) think that your gift for poker is rarer than it really is
C) think that most people are even better athletes than they really are
D) think that asthma is even rarer than it really is and that most people are even better athletes than they really are

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is an example of the false uniqueness effect, where individuals perceive their own abilities or traits as being more unique or rare than they actually are. As a result, people with exceptional abilities, such as being a great poker player, are more likely to think that their trait is even rarer than it really is. This effect does not apply to traits that are viewed as negative or undesirable, such as asthma, which individuals are more likely to believe are more common than they actually are. Therefore, option D is incorrect. Option A is also incorrect because it is the opposite of what would actually happen, as individuals with conditions like asthma are more likely to be aware of them and their prevalence. Option C is also incorrect because people with exceptional abilities are less likely to overestimate the abilities of others.

Suppose That You Are a Terrible Athlete, You Were Born