Triathlon and the Dunning-Kruger Effect

 We are familiar with this effect for quite some time.  Jesus mentioned it when he was on the cross:

“Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”… https://biblehub.com/luke/23-34.htm

Jesus did not experiment as David Dunning and Justin Kruger; he just knew it.  As psychiatrists we are familiar with this effect and it is the pillar in treatment.  The patient should know reality.  Reality is necessary to get out of the hole where we are sometimes; but in order to know reality we need to know basic life’s principles.  Not everybody is knowledgeable about these principles related to humans; reason why a good psychotherapy is necessary and it implies an education about life.  Let’s Dunning, himself, explained what he wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOPyzgIwy9U

We have this problem of Dunning-Kruger effect in triathlon when dealing with Federations and other organizations related to triathlon; not to mentioned other coaches.  Let’s listen to Malcolm Brown when he explains his project working with the Brownlee brothers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od0i2BrTQvI

Our first task in our team to improve performance is to teach where we are.  We are working with the lowest 25^th percentile in triathlon worldwide. “Where we are” becomes the most important matter to teach in order to evaluate our training and progress.  It takes years, if it happens, to see the mediocrity where we are.  Teaching to overcome mediocrity is easier if we succeed in giving the tools to evaluate quality, basic life’s principles are part of the tools.  High performance training in Mexico without looking at the Dunning-Kruger effect is not possible.