The chapter explores the intricacies of belief formation, emphasizing the importance of scrutinizing experts and data sources. It delves into the challenges of being believed, particularly in high-stakes situations like asylum processes, court trials, and medical contexts. The narrative also discusses the imbalance of power dynamics in various systems and the struggles faced by marginalized individuals in being understood and believed.
Stories are such a powerful human invention that even the fictional ones can feel completely true. Dina Nayeri is a writer of fiction and nonfiction whose work highlights just how influential the stories we tell can be – and what is at risk when the truth isn’t valued. Dina speaks from her experience as a storyteller and former refugee about the importance of shaping a society that is thoughtful about language, history, culture, and truth. Then, she suggests frameworks anyone can use to think critically about what they think they know -- and questions why certain stories are more likely to be believed. For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts