The Curse of Knowledge: Why Don’t They Understand Us?

We’ve all faced situations where we feel like we’re saying something completely obvious, yet the other person looks at us in total confusion. This isn’t because one of us is unintelligent or inattentive, but because of a phenomenon psychologists call the "curse of knowledge."

We’ve all faced situations where we feel like we’re saying something completely obvious, yet the other person looks at us in total confusion. This isn’t because one of us is unintelligent or inattentive, but because of a phenomenon psychologists call the "curse of knowledge."

What is the Curse of Knowledge?

The curse of knowledge is a cognitive bias that makes it difficult for us to understand how people with less knowledge perceive information. When we know something well, it becomes incredibly hard to imagine what it’s like to not know it. Moreover, this influences how we explain and share information with others.

Hints and Misunderstandings

A classic example is when we struggle to convey hints. We’re confident that our hint is clear, but the other person, lacking our knowledge or context, simply doesn’t get it. This leads to frustration as we believe the hint is obvious, yet the person doesn’t respond. But the issue isn’t their intelligence—the hint giver just doesn’t realize how hard it can be for someone else to decode what seems so apparent to them.

Work and Client Interactions

The situation becomes even more complicated in professional settings. Imagine you’re a specialist hired to complete a task, like repairing equipment. The problem is clear to you, and you see all the complexities involved. But the client, who lacks technical knowledge, genuinely doesn’t understand why such a "simple" fix takes so much time and money. In this case, our expertise can actually be a barrier to effective communication. We’re so immersed in the details that we forget the client only sees the surface.

The Challenges of Public Speaking

Public speaking is another area where the curse of knowledge shines through. When preparing a presentation or a speech, there’s a temptation to go into every little detail to ensure nothing important is missed. Any simplification feels catastrophic: how can we talk about this without explaining all the nuances? We forget that our audience doesn’t have all the information we do. For them, our complex terminology and deep details can become a barrier to understanding.

How to Avoid the Curse of Knowledge

The first step is to recognize it. Understanding that not everyone sees the world the way you do is half the battle. Here are some simple tips to help communicate better:

1. Simplify. Don’t be afraid to speak more simply than you think necessary. People find it easier to absorb short, clear explanations.

2. Check for feedback. Ask questions to make sure you’re understood correctly. This will help you adjust your explanation if needed.

3. Use examples. Examples help clarify abstract ideas by placing them in a familiar context.

In the end, to truly understand another person, sometimes we need to step outside our own knowledge and try to see the world through the eyes of a beginner.