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On the adaptive advantage of always being right (even when one is not)
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 January 2010
Abstract
We propose another positive illusion – overconfidence in the generalisability of one's theory – that fits with McKay & Dennett's (M&D's) criteria for adaptive misbeliefs. This illusion is pervasive in adult reasoning but we focus on its prevalence in children's developing theories. It is a strongly held conviction arising from normal functioning of the doxastic system that confers adaptive advantage on the individual.
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- Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010
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