Carol Tavris - Mistakes Were Made But Not By Me

The Psychology of Self-Justification with Carol Tavris

In this episode, Aidan McCullen interviews Carol Tavris, co-author of 'Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me),' to explore the intricacies of cognitive dissonance, self-justification, and memory. They investigate why humans find it difficult to admit mistakes, even in the presence of irrefutable evidence. Through numerous case studies and real-world examples, they discuss the implications of these psychological mechanisms in areas as varied as personal life, law enforcement, and political decision-making. The conversation tackles how these insights can apply to everyone from parents and judges to business leaders and law enforcement, emphasizing the significance of humility, critical thinking, and the human tendency to rewrite personal histories to fit current beliefs.

00:00 Introduction to Self-Justification

01:14 Welcoming the Author: Carol Tavris

02:17 The Premise of the Book

03:06 Understanding Cognitive Dissonance

08:44 Memory and Self-Justification

14:43 Confabulations and False Memories

23:02 The Pyramid of Choice

32:42 Law Enforcement and Wrongful Convictions

37:58 The Importance of Correcting Interrogation Methods

38:33 The Impact of Miscarriages of Justice

38:55 Examples of Recognizing Mistakes

39:52 The 1980s and 90s Hysteria Over Child Abuse

40:21 The McMartin Daycare Scandal

41:06 Flawed Child Interrogation Techniques

42:58 A Case of Misunderstanding: Daddy's Pee Pee

44:53 The Emotional Toll of False Convictions

47:39 The Pyramid of Entrapment and Justification

48:48 The Influence of Bias in Decision Making

50:32 The Role of Pharmaceutical Companies in Medicine

52:06 Moral Choices and Life Decisions

54:55 Understanding and Living with Cognitive Dissonance

01:03:17 The Power of Admitting Mistakes

01:06:58 The Allure of Victim Narratives

01:08:40 Alien Abductions and Hypnagogic States

01:14:17 The Importance of Understanding Human Frailties

Find Carol here: 

https://tavris.socialpsychology.org

That Sarah Silverman interview: 

https://youtu.be/FUKdUk_QxAA?si=2kUbf2QCKD08wyaP

Carol’s books: 

https://tavris.socialpsychology.org/publications

psychology, cognitive dissonance, self-justification, memory, mistakes, humility, ethics, law enforcement, interrogation, wrongful convictions, trauma, alien abductions, confirmation bias, leadership, decision making, self-concept, Carol Tavris (author), Aidan McCullen (host), Elliot Aronson (co-author), Leon Festinger (researcher on cognitive dissonance), James Thurber (author of The Wonderful O), Richard Feynman (scientist and quote source), Mary Carr (memoirist), Joseph Allen (wrongfully convicted), Ronald Reagan (Bitburg cemetery incident), Shimon Peres (comment on Reagan's mistake), Sarah Silverman (Louis C.K. controversy), Louis C.K. (comedian involved in controversy), Jeffrey Cohen (research on political bias), Lee Ross (naive realism), John Mack (psychiatrist on alien abductions), Susan Clancy (researcher on alien abductions), Rich McNally (memory scientist), Antonin Scalia (Supreme Court Justice), Clarence Thomas (Supreme Court Justice), Auburn Blooming (oncologist and co-author)