Illusory superiority

Biological Parallel

In tournaments between male sticklebacks, nearly every male initiates territorial displays as if they're likely to win, despite the mathematical impossibility that all can be above average. This optimistic bias serves an evolutionary function: animals that systematically underestimate themselves never compete and never reproduce, while those with moderate overconfidence enter enough competitions to occasionally succeed. Natural selection doesn't optimize for accuracy—it optimizes for reproductive success, which sometimes requires strategic self-deception.