Why we think we're good at something when we're not

(Medical Xpress)—Reality TV has a way of highlighting the worst in people, even when they genuinely think they're doing their best. American Idol is just one example, in which contestants who can't carry a tune are shocked when told they can't sing. Zlatan Krizan, an associate professor of psychology at Iowa State University, says it's a natural reaction because we have a hard time accurately evaluating our abilities.