How Do Collective Illusions Affect Your Life?

4min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

Tod rose: Collective illusions are basically social lies. They happen in situations where most people in a group go along with a view that they don't agree with, just because they incorrectly think that most other people in the group agree with it. One of the biggest illusions we've ever found was related to the issue of fame. It's sad enough when our children have internalized the social lie that we don't believe what we think everybody believes. What happens when that same kind of problem is related to the most fundamental issues of what we care about in a democracy? Tod rose: Just because they're social lies doesn't mean their consequences aren't real.

Research shows our desire to fit in is incredibly strong. If you've ever disagreed with a group, but were afraid to speak up, you know the feeling. It means we go along to get along. Unfortunately, these feelings are the rule, not the exception. Millions of people experience them on a regular basis. It’s a phenomena psychologists call pluralistic ignorance, and it distorts how we see the world. From racial segregation to discarding healthy kidneys slated for organ transplants, the effects can be enormous. Todd Rose, author of the book, Collective Illusions: Conformity, Complicity, and the Science of Why We Make Bad Decisions, believes it’s a much bigger problem than we realize, one that reinforces norms and shapes systems that hold us back. Todd not only explains the science behind it, but offers things we can do to address it, things that, ultimately, will make us happier and healthier in the process. It’s a terrific and timely read! Episode Links Middle Schoolers say they want to be famous Solomon Asch Leon Festinger Rene Girard Populace Story Like You Mean It by Dennis Rebelo The Team Learn more about host, Gayle Allen, and producer, Rob Mancabelli, here. Support the Podcast If you like the show, please rate and review it on iTunes or wherever you subscribe, and tell a friend or family member about the show. Subscribe Click here and then scroll down to see a sample of sites where you can subscribe.