<p>I very often find situations where someone is certain she understands something (an explanation, a thought, a set of isntructions), when, actually, there are many gaps in this understanding. I have looked among the cognitive biases, but have not found something in this line.</p>

<p>Is there such a Bias, or is it embeded in other biases?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-30T15:40:16.887Z
Actually, this is very different from the Dunning Krugger Effect. It's about being confident that you are perfectly following a logical argument, a set of instructions, etc, when, actually, there are many gaps in your understanding. Do you know when someone explains to you how to do something, you thing you understood, but when you get to do it, you figure you haven't understood?
Vitu Tomaz
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-30T16:47:18.913Z
In my opinion, the Dunning-Kruger effect also allows a temporary overconfidence (or lack of awareness) until faced with the truth. Or would you like an answer approaching this like a working-memory fault where you forget instructions (or failed to piece them together)?
Robin Kramer-ten Have
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-31T05:33:38.830Z
@VituTomaz There is a second answer in the question that refers to the  [illusion of explanatory depth](https://www.edge.org/response-detail/27117), which may be closer to what you are looking for.
DesignerAnalyst
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-31T12:25:21.983Z
@DesignerAnalyst that's exactly what I was looking for, thank you!
Vitu Tomaz
<bias>
Is there an Illusion of Completeness of Understanding
Vitu Tomaz
# Is there an Illusion of Completeness of Understanding

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-05-30)

I very often find situations where someone is certain she understands something (an explanation, a thought, a set of isntructions), when, actually, there are many gaps in this understanding. I have looked among the cognitive biases, but have not found something in this line.

Is there such a Bias, or is it embeded in other biases?

**Tags:** bias

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Actually, this is very different from the Dunning Krugger Effect. It's about being confident that you are perfectly following a logical argument, a set of instructions, etc, when, actually, there are many gaps in your understanding. Do you know when someone explains to you how to do something, you thing you understood, but when you get to do it, you figure you haven't understood?  
> **username_1**: In my opinion, the Dunning-Kruger effect also allows a temporary overconfidence (or lack of awareness) until faced with the truth. Or would you like an answer approaching this like a working-memory fault where you forget instructions (or failed to piece them together)?  
> **username_2**: @VituTomaz There is a second answer in the question that refers to the  [illusion of explanatory depth](https://www.edge.org/response-detail/27117), which may be closer to what you are looking for.  
> **username_0**: @username_2 that's exactly what I was looking for, thank you!  

---

## 0 answers

