Increments #87 - Gullibility, Belief, and Conformity (with Hugo Mercier)
Jun 20, 2025
Join research director Hugo Mercier as he dives into the fascinating world of belief and conformity. He critiques the dual process theory of cognition, identifying how our biases often lead us astray. Mercier explores the mechanics of propaganda, particularly how social media has reshaped its influence. He also examines why advertising often fails despite hefty budgets and shares insights on social signaling in belief systems. With discussions on flat earthers and the importance of dialogue, this conversation unpacks the nuances of how we trust and believe.
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Cognitive Biases as Smart Heuristics
- Cognitive biases reflect smart heuristics that generally function well.
- Mistakes occur because heuristics are shortcuts, not flaws in the mind's design.
Critique of Dual Process Theory
- Dual process theory treats system 2 as a homunculus controlling everything.
- Empirical evidence disputes system 2 simply correcting system 1 mistakes.
Group Reasoning Corrects Errors
- People rarely self-correct wrong intuitive answers alone.
- Group discussion spreads the correct answer through better arguments, not conformity.
