Reflections on Self-Knowledge

Review of the book, “Self-Insight: Roadblocks and Detours on the Path to Knowing Thyself” (see record 2005-01657-000) by David Dunning. Self-awareness deficits and distortions plague most people seeking mental health treatment. How pervasive, then, is this difficulty in knowing one's self in the “normal” population? With his title, Dunning lets readers know that there are plenty of roadblocks and detours on this path. His book is a catalogue of a variety of ways in which ordinary human beings do not know themselves. Dunning summarizes extensive research that documents the limitations of human judgment. In doing so, he makes a compelling case that we human beings are not able to predict our own behavior accurately or evaluate our own capabilities. Dunning has outlined principles and methods of understanding as well as distortions and deficits in our ability to predict our own behavior. His book is humbling as well as frustrating. However, it reminds us that clinicians as well as administrators need to appreciate the great difficulty people have in accurately observing and understanding themselves in ways that can help bring about change. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)