McArthur Wheeler became known for a peculiar 1995 incident. His unusual actions during a bank robbery in Pittsburgh prompted psychological inquiry. His bizarre approach, particularly his lack of conventional disguise, raised questions about human perception and self-assessment. This remarkable case continues to serve as a real-world illustration for certain aspects of human cognition.
The Bizarre Bank Robbery
On January 6, 1995, McArthur Wheeler, with an accomplice, carried out two armed bank robberies in the Greater Pittsburgh area. The first target was a Mellon Bank branch in Swissvale, where they successfully left with approximately $5,200. A second robbery occurred at the Fidelity Savings Bank in Brighton Heights later that day.
During both incidents, neither robber wore masks or traditional disguises, operating in broad daylight. Surveillance cameras at both banks captured clear images of their faces. Wheeler reportedly even smiled at the cameras during the robberies. Police were able to easily identify and apprehend his accomplice within days, and Wheeler was arrested in April after his photograph was broadcast on a Pittsburgh Crime Stoppers segment.
The Lemon Juice Delusion
McArthur Wheeler’s peculiar strategy stemmed from a misguided belief that applying lemon juice to his face would render him invisible to surveillance cameras. He believed this because lemon juice acts as invisible ink, becoming visible only when heated. His flawed reasoning led him to conclude it would similarly make his face invisible to video recording devices.
To “test” his theory, Wheeler smeared lemon juice on his face and took a Polaroid picture of himself. When the resulting photograph showed no image of his face, he became convinced his method was effective. Detectives later suggested that his absence from the photo was likely due to a faulty film, an improperly adjusted camera, or simply Wheeler unintentionally pointing the camera away from his face. Despite the clear surveillance footage, upon his arrest, Wheeler reportedly mumbled in disbelief, “But I wore the juice, I wore the lemon juice”.
The Dunning-Kruger Effect
McArthur Wheeler’s astonishing lack of insight into his own incompetence inspired research into the Dunning-Kruger effect. This psychological phenomenon describes a cognitive bias where individuals with low ability in a particular task tend to overestimate their competence in that area. It suggests that a lack of skill can also prevent people from recognizing their own deficiencies.
Psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger coined the term in 1999, drawing directly from Wheeler’s case. His ignorance about how cameras work and the properties of lemon juice led to an inflated sense of confidence in his bizarre plan. The Dunning-Kruger effect highlights that individuals with limited knowledge or skill often lack the metacognitive ability to accurately assess their own performance, leading to an illusion of superiority.