Cognitive Biases and Their Impact - 19 (Curse of Knowledge)
Curse of Knowledge The Curse of Knowledge is a cognitive bias wherein individuals with specific knowledge or expertise assume that others have the same background information or understanding. This bias can lead to miscommunication, as experts overestimate the knowledge base of their audience. This concept is particularly relevant in areas requiring effective information dissemination, such as education and communication. Discovery and Evolution of the Concept The term "Curse of Knowledge" was introduced in 1989 by economists Colin Camerer, George Loewenstein, and Martin Weber. Their research primarily focused on market dynamics and decision-making, but the implications of their findings extended into various domains, including communication and education. The discovery underscored a fundamental challenge in human communication: the difficulty experts face in imagining what it is like not to know something they understand deeply. Characteristics and Contributing Factors Exper