Hyperconfidencia is a type of Starting Point Learning Challenge where the student is simply “overconfident”. While having confidence in your answers is a good thing, having too much could be harmful since the learner might then be resistant to change/learning new information in cases where they are incorrect. The counterpart (under-confidence) is hypoconfidencia.
Example (with sample treatment):
Econ Tutor: So, what happens to the price of peanut butter when peanuts (an input) become more expensive?
Student: The price increases.
Econ Tutor: Good – why?
Student: Look I understand this simple stuff, I don’t think we should spend time on it.
Econ Tutor: Absolutely, I just want to make sure your reasoning is correct since this will come up later, then we’ll move on.
Student: I’d rather we just move on, please.
Econ Tutor: No problem. Next question – what happens to the price of peanut butter when the price of Jelly (a complementary good) increases?
Student: Same answer, peanut butter becomes more expensive if Jelly does.
Econ Tutor: Actually it wouldn’t. Just to make sure your reasoning is right, the first thing to think about is which curve (supply or demand) shifts in which direction. In the first problem, Supply decreased – which raises price. However in when Jelly becomes expensive, people demand less Peanut butter, which lowers the price. It’s good to be confident in yourself of course, but don’t just rely on your instinct: rely on your sound reasoning!