In The Psychologist, June 2013, David Dunning writes an article entitled: The Paradox of Knowing, saying we have greater insight into others than ourselves. Dunning writes that through their predictions, people seem to possess a rough but valid wisdom about the general dynamics of human nature, and how it is reflected in people's actions, they just fail to display the same sagacity when it comes to understanding their own personal dynamics.
Dunning carried out lab work, asking respondents to forecast how they would behave in various situations. He asks, do people believe too much in their better selves (but not the better selves of others)?
My opinion is that a lot of guess work would be taken out of believing we know others and can predict what their actions will be, (a practice that is based on being aware of social norms, rather than insight into the depths of another's personality and character). Perhaps take the time to explore our own and others' personalities, and base our understanding and our inter-personal interactions on such, rather than predominantly on social norms. Social norms can be exclusionary and explain perhaps, why we fail to display the same sagacity Dunning refers to, when it comes to understanding our own personal dynamics. see www.analyseyourenergy.com
