The Dunning–Kruger effect in the professional activity of Russian drama theatre actors: the phenomenon of the «irrelevant education trap»

This article analyzes the relationship between the cognitive bias known as the Dunning–Kruger effect and the phenomenon of the «irrelevant education trap» in the professional activities of Russian actors. Based on the analysis of interviews with practicing actors, educators from creative universities, casting directors, as well as statistical data, a pattern is identified: applicants for the «Acting Art» specialty with a low level of professional competence are prone to investing time and resources in obtaining educational services that are often irrelevant to the real market situation. Furthermore, obtaining such irrelevant education leads actors who have become certified specialists to overestimate their talent and skills. The author introduces and substantiates the concept of the «irrelevant education trap» as a system of educational practices that create an illusion of professional growth but do not lead to a real increase in an actor's competitiveness and employability. The article reveals the socio-cultural and economic mechanisms that sustain this trap within the conditions of the modern Russian theatre market. The research findings prompt a re-evaluation of traditional approaches to professional training and continuous education in the acting community.