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Old 07-25-2010, 11:35 AM   #1
ismenis
 
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Default "He doesn't know how bad he is" syndrome

I hate to start a one-question thread, but my pathetic search-fu didn't find any answers among the fora.

So the question is, what is the name of the mental disorder (not sure if it is classified as such) with which a person simply doesn't know how to judge his/her own ability in one or many areas. This seems to happen a lot when it comes to singing, with the most infamous example a certain William Hung, and many other contestants in tv talent shows. I'm also sure a lot of you know people who have no idea how bad they are at singing and keep torturing people around them by repeatedly attempting to do so.

More importantly, how should I model it in GURPS? I'm guessing it would only be an OPH if it concerns singing, and the sample delusions in MA covers fighting. What about other areas?

Thanks!
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Old 07-25-2010, 11:42 AM   #2
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Default Re: "He doesn't know how bad he is" syndrome

Could be OPH, Delusion, or Overconfidence, or some combination thereof.
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Old 07-25-2010, 11:42 AM   #3
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Default Re: "He doesn't know how bad he is" syndrome

To me it's a Minor Delusion, or Overconfidence if it spills over to most of the character's abilities.

In William Hung's case it might be a Major Delusion ;)
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Old 07-25-2010, 11:47 AM   #4
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Default Re: "He doesn't know how bad he is" syndrome

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Originally Posted by gilbone View Post
To me it's a Minor Delusion, or Overconfidence if it spills over to most of the character's abilities.
And if the character knows he has Incompetence:(whatever) but keeps trying to do (whatever) anyway, that's an Odious Personal Habit.
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Old 07-25-2010, 11:50 AM   #5
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Default Re: "He doesn't know how bad he is" syndrome

*LOL* It can even be a natural effect of having too many Allies and Contacts who are too polite to tell the truth about how you sound when singing, look when dancing, etc.

...

There ought to be a limit on encouragement. ;-)
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Old 07-25-2010, 11:51 AM   #6
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Default Re: "He doesn't know how bad he is" syndrome

Or not believing them when they do tell you.

("You're a terrible cook."

"You said I was ugly, too, but the richest guy at school wants to date me.")
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Old 07-25-2010, 02:37 PM   #7
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Default Re: "He doesn't know how bad he is" syndrome

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Originally Posted by ismenis View Post
So the question is, what is the name of the mental disorder (not sure if it is classified as such) with which a person simply doesn't know how to judge his/her own ability in one or many areas.
Illusory superiority
Incompetence Syndrome
Dunning-Kruger Effect

(stick first and last into Wikipedia for more)

I think that in game terms this would simply be a natural consequence of low IQ.
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Old 07-25-2010, 02:41 PM   #8
David Johnston2
 
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Default Re: "He doesn't know how bad he is" syndrome

The actual incompetence quirk should probably include a refusal to admit it, particularly when it's a skill that won't be called upon by outside circumstances. Incompetent cooks, for example, are only worth mentioning as a quirk if they also insist on actually trying to cook.
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Old 07-25-2010, 03:06 PM   #9
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Default Re: "He doesn't know how bad he is" syndrome

I don't know of a technical name, but tvtropes calls it Giftedly Bad.
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Old 07-25-2010, 05:42 PM   #10
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Default Re: "He doesn't know how bad he is" syndrome

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Originally Posted by ismenis View Post
I hate to start a one-question thread, but my pathetic search-fu didn't find any answers among the fora.

So the question is, what is the name of the mental disorder (not sure if it is classified as such) with which a person simply doesn't know how to judge his/her own ability in one or many areas.
Anosognosia, delusions of grandeur, and grandiosity (all of which are symptoms, not disorders themselves) touch on this in one way or another.

In GURPS terms, Delusions, Overconfidence, and Megalomania can be appropriate.
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