Illusion of Transparency

Priya is about to pitch a creative idea at a team meeting. As she prepares to speak, her mind races with self-doubt and anxiety. Although Priya has prepared well for her presentation, she’s never been comfortable speaking in public. Convinced that her nervousness is clearly visible to everyone in the room, she imagines her colleagues scrutinizing her every gesture, facial expression, and stumble on words for signs of hesitation. Some are looking down at their cell phones, others are writing or typing on their devices. Priya tells herself that these are clear signs that her audience have zoned out of her presentation because they know she’s doubting herself.  

In reality, Priya’s co-workers perceive her as confident and articulate, and are just engrossed in their own thoughts and agendas. The illusion of transparency deceives Priya into believing that her internal emotional state is transparent to others. It even contributes to her misinterpreting her colleagues’ behavior during the presentation. The gap between her perceived vulnerability and the team's obliviousness to it becomes evident during the coffee break when a colleague expresses genuine admiration for Priya's engaging presentation.

This workplace anecdote exemplifies how the illusion of transparency can distort our perception of everyday social interactions, making us feel like those around us can read our mind. Rather than focussing on delivering her idea, Priya was distracted by negative thoughts about her colleagues’ reactions. Priya's conviction that her audience could detect her inner turmoil highlights our tendency to overestimate the external visibility of our internal emotions.