The illusion of explanatory depth
We often think we understand complex topics more deeply than we really do.
What’s the last time you thought you understood something completely, only to find out you were wrong?
What are some complex topics you believe in strongly but haven’t explored in depth?
Why do politicians often use vague words like "freedom" or "progress"?
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You might use bicycles or zippers regularly—but how well do you actually understand how they work? Let’s find out! Take a piece of paper and draw how a bicycle chain works. Show how the pedals, chain, gears, and wheels connect and move together. Now do the same for a zipper, showing how its parts work together to open and close. Afterward, take a look at an actual bicycle and zipper to check if your drawings are correct.
How did you get on? Did your drawings turn out to be accurate? Or did you realize—like many of us do—that you know less about how these everyday things work than you thought?
We often feel confident—even overconfident—about our knowledge and opinions because of the illusion of explanatory depth—our tendency to think we understand complex topics more precise and deeply than we actually do. This cognitive bias occurs because seeing something work, having experience with it, or even knowing it exists can trick us into thinking we grasp it, simply because it feels familiar. But in reality, we often know far less than we assume. Our brains naturally try to save energy by taking mental shortcuts, so we tend to avoid putting in the effort to explore things deeply. The more we rely on these shortcuts, the bigger the gap grows between what we think we know and what we actually understand.
This illusion doesn’t just apply to everyday objects—it also influences how we think about important subjects that affect our lives, like climate change, illegal immigration, and other complex matters. This leaves us with large gaps in our knowledge, making it easy to form strong opinions based on only a surface-level understanding of multifaceted topics. As a result, debates and decisions may be framed in ways that overlook key details, often reinforcing existing divides and strengthening polarization rather than fostering genuine understanding. By recognizing this illusion, we can avoid jumping to conclusions and remain open to learning about the complexities behind these issues.
For example, many people have strong opinions on how democracy should work but struggle to explain key details—like how laws are passed, how elections are regulated, or how different branches of government interact. The same pattern appears with economic topics such as inflation, taxes, and the job market—people often feel confident in their views but may not deeply understand how these areas work. Similarly, healthcare policies like universal healthcare or vaccines inspire strong opinions, yet many lack a clear grasp of the medical or economic processes involved. Likewise, someone might believe they understand the science of climate change but struggle to explain key processes like the greenhouse effect or carbon cycles.
Some people deliberately take advantage of the illusion of explanatory depth by using abstract, unclear words that sound impressive but don’t really mean much, in order to mislead, persuade, or impress others without offering any real information. Politicians, for example, often rely on ambiguous, feel-good terms—like freedom, progress, or justice—to appeal to large groups of voters, deliberately avoiding specific policies to prevent alienating any potential supporters. Philosophers sometimes use obscure terms—such as otherness, being-for-itself, or The Absolute—to make concepts seem deeper or more profound than they actually are. In spiritual circles, words like “energy” or “higher consciousness” are used in ways that feel meaningful but are difficult to define. In all these cases, we may have the illusion of understanding what’s being said, but without investigating in more detail the true meaning remains unclear.
The illusion of explanatory depth is a specific type of the illusion of knowledge, which applies more broadly to all kinds of knowledge, such as facts and procedures. While the illusion of knowledge leads us to believe we understand something in general, the illusion of explanatory depth makes us think we understand something complex in detail.
How to combat the illusion of explanatory depth
Below, we’ll look at simple strategies to challenge the illusion and get a clearer, deeper understanding of topics.
⚒️ Test your understanding
To break free from the illusion of explanatory depth, make it a habit to explain new complex concepts to yourself or someone else as you learn them. Putting concepts into your own words helps you see what you really know and what you are missing. If you struggle to explain something clearly, it’s a sign that there’s more to learn. This practice helps you understand multifaceted concepts more deeply instead of just relying on vague familiarity.
⚒️ Help others recognize knowledge gaps
If you want to help someone else realize they don’t deeply understand something, ask them to explain their concepts or reasoning in detail, step by step. You can encourage them to break down their explanation further by asking questions like, “How am I supposed to do that?” or “How does this work?” As they try to explain, they may notice gaps or parts they don’t understand themselves.
This method, known as the “Explain It to Me” technique, helps people recognize the limits of their knowledge and encourages more thoughtful learning. It can make them open to reconsidering their views or at least feeling less certain about them. Plus, if they can explain why they believe they’re right and how things work, you might learn something new.
This approach works best when it’s friendly and open. Rather than directly challenging someone, you encourage them to explore their reasoning on their own. When they encounter gaps in their understanding, they’re more likely to rethink their perspective without feeling defensive or resistant to new information. Over time, this kind of open discussion can reduce polarization by fostering curiosity and a willingness to engage with different viewpoints.
Additional tips
👉 Ask questions: Don’t hesitate to ask questions, no matter how simple they may seem. The more questions you ask, the deeper your understanding will grow.
👉 Break things down: Divide complex concepts into smaller, simpler parts. Understanding the smaller pieces will help you see the bigger picture more clearly.
👉 Be curious: Keep an open mind and be curious about learning new things. The more you seek to understand, the less likely you are to rely on surface-level knowledge.
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We often think we understand complex things more deeply than we really do, which is called the illusion of explanatory depth. To build a more accurate understanding of the world, we need to try explaining multifaceted topics clearly to ourselves or others to spot any gaps in our knowledge. To help others do the same, we can ask them to explain their concepts to us. We might be surprised by how much more there is to discover!
References
The illusion of knowledge, You Are Not So Smart Podcast, David McRaney, guest Christopher Chabris
Do You Know What You Don’t Know?, Farnam Street
The Art of Winning An Argument, Farnam Street
