Mind & Psychology•November 17, 2025•1 min read

The Curse of Knowledge: Experts Cannot Teach

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Chip & Dan HeathContributor

Tapping the Rhythm

In a study, “tappers” tapped the rhythm of a famous song (like Happy Birthday) on a table. “Listeners” had to guess the song. Tappers predicted 50% would guess it. Real success rate: 2.5%. Why? The tapper hears the song in their head. They cannot imagine that the listener hears only random taps.

The Teacher’s Burden

This is why brilliant professors are often terrible teachers. They assume context that the student does not have. To communicate, you must unlearn your expertise and step into the beginner’s mind.

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Chip & Dan Heath

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