Infallibility

Gordon Allport (1897-1967)

I remember reading, around forty-five years ago, something by the influential psychologist Gordon Allport, who developed Trait Theory. It was about very highly successful individuals. He asked whether there might be any particular quality or qualities common to high levels of achievement. 

The successful people he studied were distinguished academics: university professors known internationally for their work, who had published shelves full of academic articles, attracted large amounts of research funding, and influenced lots of others in their field; people like himself, perhaps. 

There seemed to be only one factor common to them all: a total, unshakeable belief in their own infallibility. The trouble was that this sense of infallibility often extended beyond their area of expertise. 

I suppose a modern-day example might be a very rich and successful engineering and technology entrepreneur, who becomes an instant self-appointed expert on politics and social policy, making pronouncements on topics such as child protection, and belittling the judgment and experience of those who have been working in the field for years, because “they know better”. 

But then, what do I know? I have tried to find the Allport article again, but been unable to, so am working from memory, and personality psychology has never been my area, anyway. Although things like that don’t seem to matter much these days.