Trying to please everyone rests on a flawed premise, according to two studies: a classic experiment found people overestimate how much others notice or judge them by roughly double, in one test only 23 percent of a room remembered an embarrassing shirt when 46 percent was predicted, and a separate s

Key takeaways

• People overestimate how much others notice their mistakes.
• Focusing on universal approval is often unnecessary.
• Reduce anxiety when trying new AI tools.
• Others are more focused on their own performance.

Why it matters

This research is relevant for AI users by highlighting a common cognitive bias. Understanding this can reduce anxiety when experimenting with new AI tools or prompts, as the perceived judgment from colleagues or supervisors is likely exaggerated.