“Appeal to Confidence”
Trust Me. I Got This.
What is Appeal to Confidence?
Appealing to one’s perceived abilities rather than logical validity.
Business Application
Appeals to confidence can be an effective exploitation of our cognitive biases. Learning to recognize this appeal will help signal when to ask more questions and improve your ability to make better judgement calls.
Example 1
“Fake it till you make it.”
Why This is a Fallacy
“Fake it till you make it” appeals to confidence in establishing oneself as a professional.
Example 2
“Act as if.”
Why This is a Fallacy
“Act as if” is a common suggestion to establish oneself as an expert in order to be better positioned as an authority.
