Intellectual humility is recognizing the limits of one's knowledge and acknowledging one's fallibility. It involves not thinking too highly of oneself, refraining from believing one's views are superior to others, and being open to new ideas. It's considered a balance between intellectual arrogance and undervaluing one's beliefs. Intellectual humility is also distinct from general humility, modesty, and open-mindedness.
Intellectual humility is associated with many benefits, including improved decision-making, positive social interactions, tolerance, empathy, and a greater openness to learning about different political views. Intellectually humble people are more likely to process information in ways that enhance their understanding and are more likely to have positive social interactions, especially when disagreements arise. They also tend to be more tolerant of other people's beliefs and ideas. Recent studies have found that intellectual humility is associated with improved misinformation discernment and metacognitive awareness.
Researchers suggest intellectual humility can be observed during interpersonal conflict, while receiving praise, in hierarchical relationships, or in interactions across different cultures. Studies also suggest that cultivating intellectual humility involves questioning your beliefs, accepting flaws in your knowledge, and being willing to improve.
While generally considered a virtue, some research suggests potential downsides to intellectual humility, particularly in the context of religious belief, and that it might lead to response bias, potentially causing individuals to be overly cautious when evaluating information. Some researchers have also noted a lack of clear methods for measuring intellectual humility.
