The opposite of dunning kruger

The Dunning-Kruger study says that there are people who
Cognitively lack the needed self-awareness to
Recognize their lack of competent abilities
Who can’t objectively evaluate their faculties

Illusory superiority results in them
And misperception bias is what fast becomes the stem
From which they bulb and bloom into conceited, selfish flowers
Unearned confidence that gives them super smugness powers

Mistakenly their ego’s wrong and so misrepresents
Miscalibrating estimations of intelligence
In both themselves and everyone around them where they are
They think that they’re smartest and they think that they’re the star

Overcompensating for an insecurity
In NOT what Dunning-Kruger is. That’s just humanity.
No, Dunning-Kruger people really feel that they’re the best
When each objective metric says they’re not and fails the test

We all know people like that and who knows if we’re ones, too?
I like to think I’m not one but I’d hate to misconstrue
My own small estimation of my own intelligence
Probably not. My ego is the kind that self-torments

It makes me think that maybe there’s an opposite effect
Of brilliant people who have no idea that they’re perfect
They can’t compare their own brain to another one out there
So they can never really know what’s going on up there

They see the stuff that others don’t but never recognize
That they seem supernaturally intelligent and wise
Not impostor syndrome or too humble or too slow
But something in their cognizance just doesn’t let them know

I’ve met folks like this as well who seem to be unclear
That they’re the smartest person in the room or hemisphere
It’s obvious to some but since they never really show it
Not everyone who ever interacts with them will know it

They’ll never brag about the plethora of words they say
They’ll never spout conceited bluster in a gross display
They’ll never filibuster on and on about their brains
You’ll never hear them brag about their monetary gains

No, there’s a crew of people out there quietly astute
Adept, quick-witted, bright, effective, brilliant, sharp and shrewd
That honestly have no idea that they’re a step above
They’re interesting to me because they do remind me of

The problems in the world that we face with those that rise
To powerful positions in a web of noxious lies
Ambition’s tied to confidence and Dunning-Kruger seems
To be the central cornerstone of most of those regimes

There’s those that rule with altruistic wisdom, strength and fairness
Such instances of this occurring happen with a rareness
A touch of Dunning-Kruger helps the doltish to succeed
When all they need is volume, swagger, stamina and greed

So keep an eye and ear out for the ones that might be hid
The ones that keep their lights under a bushel or a lid
Who calmly solve a myriad of problems every day
But never think to put their stunning talents on display



tasg