Cognitive biases & decision-making · law 082
Curse of Knowledge
By Shivam Bhandari · Reviewed 31 October 2026 · How we write
what it means
Once you know something, it is hard to imagine not knowing it — so experts explain things badly to beginners.
How Curse of Knowledge works
Experts skip steps, use jargon, and assume context that customers and new staff don't have. They genuinely can't see the gap.
In business, the curse of knowledge damages marketing copy, product onboarding, training, and instructions.
where it comes from
Named by economists Colin Camerer, George Loewenstein, and Martin Weber in 1989. Elizabeth Newton's 1990 Stanford study showed people tapping songs predicted listeners would guess half of them; listeners guessed about 2.5%.
Curse of Knowledge examples in business
Marketing copy
A tech company describes its product in technical terms buyers don't understand.
Training
A senior employee trains a new hire too fast and assumes knowledge they don't have.
Instructions
Assembly instructions written by engineers confuse customers.
How to apply it
- 1Test your messages and instructions with real beginners.
- 2Replace jargon with plain words and examples.
- 3Use concrete stories and analogies.
- 4Watch new customers use your product without helping them.
common misreading
Expertise is valuable — the curse is in forgetting what it is like not to have it.
ask yourself
Would a complete beginner understand your homepage in ten seconds?
put it into practice
Frequently asked questions
What is Curse of Knowledge?
Once you know something, it is hard to imagine not knowing it — so experts explain things badly to beginners. Experts skip steps, use jargon, and assume context that customers and new staff don't have. They genuinely can't see the gap.
Who came up with Curse of Knowledge?
Named by economists Colin Camerer, George Loewenstein, and Martin Weber in 1989. Elizabeth Newton's 1990 Stanford study showed people tapping songs predicted listeners would guess half of them; listeners guessed about 2.5%.
How do you apply Curse of Knowledge in business?
1. Test your messages and instructions with real beginners. 2. Replace jargon with plain words and examples. 3. Use concrete stories and analogies. 4. Watch new customers use your product without helping them.
What is a common misunderstanding of Curse of Knowledge?
Expertise is valuable — the curse is in forgetting what it is like not to have it.