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John Petricelli is an experimental social psychologist and professor of psychology at wake forest university. His research examines the causes and consequences of b s and b sing in a way to better understanding and improving b s detection and disposal. We also talk about vaccine hesitancy and what we can do about that, how to talk to somebody who is vaccine hesitant? What kind of questions can you ask? And just apply that to any kind of conspiracy theories. Oh, and then we kind of do a little pse at the end, talking about what you should be looking for in way of being bullshooted when you're buying something wine diamonds, a car and especially a house,. big ticket items.

Bullshit is the foundation of contaminated thinking and bad decisions that leads to health consequences, financial losses, legal consequences, broken relationships, and wasted time and resources. No matter how smart we believe ourselves to be, we’re all susceptible to bullshit — and we all engage in it. While we may brush it off as harmless marketing sales speak or as humorous, embellished claims, it’s actually much more dangerous and insidious. It’s how Bernie Madoff successfully swindled billions of dollars from even the most experienced financial experts with his Ponzi scheme. In episode # 207, Michael Shermer speaks with experimental social psychologist and Professor of Psychology at Wake Forest University, John Petrocelli about his research that examines the causes and consequences of bullshit and bullshitting in the way of better understanding and improving bullshit detection and disposal. Petrocelli provides invaluable strategies not only to recognize and protect yourself from everyday bullshit, but to accept your own lack of knowledge about subjects and avoid engaging in bullshit just for societal conformity.