People estimate their own abilities based on others’ performance

Ratings of our own abilities are strongly influenced by the performance of others, according to a new study. Interacting with high performers makes us feel more capable in cooperative team settings, but less competent in competitive situations. Moreover, the degree of ‘self-other-mergence’ is associated with activity in a brain region previously implicated in theory of mind — the ability to understand the mental states of oneself and others.