"In some cases, fear of looking dumb is a symptom of social anxiety disorder (APA, 2022), and it can be associated with perfectionism and fear of failure. It can show up in issues such as imposter syndrome, or feeling like a fraud and worrying about not rising to the expectations of a high-achieving position. It can also be related to stereotype threat, when someone's membership in a marginalized group leads them to worry that they will act in a way that confirms negative stereotypes."
"Society's obsession with IQ as a marker of success can reinforce the need to look smart from a young age. When I was a child, my parents were thrilled because I played computer games while their friends were visiting. They thought this made me look smart. While their praise was genuine, the idea of screen time being a marker of intelligence was spotty, and research confirms that people are superficial in the way they gauge others' intelligence."
Fear of looking dumb can emerge when perceived intelligence becomes central to self-worth. The fear can be a symptom of social anxiety disorder and is often associated with perfectionism, fear of failure, imposter syndrome, and stereotype threat. Any trivial blunder can feel like a threat to self-worth when there is pressure to appear smart. Societal emphasis on IQ and early-life signals that equate intelligence with specific behaviors can reinforce the need to look smart. That pressure can inhibit emotional intelligence, wise decision-making, risk-taking, and willingness to be vulnerable. Embracing 'dumb' moments with humor, humility, and openness can transform them into assets, helping others learn and encouraging healthy risk.
Read at Psychology Today
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]