As a lowly grad student, I’m frequently congratulated by professors for being clever. But, I’m mostly just explaining things that they already know. I think they’re just impressed because they have no expectations for me, and I only speak up when I know what’s going on (which is rarely).
On the flip side, they spend an hour lecturing for every ten minutes of conversation I have with them. As a result, they have far more opportunity to reveal some misconception or minor incompetence. We’re unlikely to share the same misconceptions about the world, so I’ll probably be able to call them on this error. I think the difference is that they—with their high status—are the ones who have to do most of the talking. Even someone who is a leading expert in their field is going to get called out by some know-nothing if they talk long enough.
So pretty much: I think you’re probably right—that our higher expectations will bias us away from excusing and forgetting a mistake made by someone who is of high status. I just want to add that we also give them more opportunities to reveal their shortcomings because they have high status.
As a lowly grad student, I’m frequently congratulated by professors for being clever. But, I’m mostly just explaining things that they already know. I think they’re just impressed because they have no expectations for me, and I only speak up when I know what’s going on (which is rarely).
On the flip side, they spend an hour lecturing for every ten minutes of conversation I have with them. As a result, they have far more opportunity to reveal some misconception or minor incompetence. We’re unlikely to share the same misconceptions about the world, so I’ll probably be able to call them on this error. I think the difference is that they—with their high status—are the ones who have to do most of the talking. Even someone who is a leading expert in their field is going to get called out by some know-nothing if they talk long enough.
So pretty much: I think you’re probably right—that our higher expectations will bias us away from excusing and forgetting a mistake made by someone who is of high status. I just want to add that we also give them more opportunities to reveal their shortcomings because they have high status.