Deconstructing Yourself

Talking with People about Things, with David McRaney

Feb 3, 2021

Science journalist and bestselling author David McRaney talks about how people change their minds, form their view of reality, conspiracy theory, QAnon, cognitive dissonance, and the importance of connection and respect in communication.

01:02:27

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Episode guests

David McRaney

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Reality is a subjective construct shaped by our priors and experiences, leading to diverse perspectives and the importance of empathy.

Motivated cognition influences beliefs, highlighting the need for metacognition and introspection to foster personal growth.

Technique rebuttal is an effective approach to persuasion that encourages individuals to reflect on their own reasoning, potentially leading to perspective shifts.

Deep dives

Understanding the Construction of Reality and Ambiguity

The podcast episode explores the concept of reality as a virtual construct created by the brain, highlighting how sensory information is disambiguated based on a person's priors and personal experiences. The example of the dress phenomenon is discussed, where different individuals perceive the colors differently due to variations in lighting and color constancy in the brain. This understanding of the subjective nature of perception and beliefs can lead to greater empathy and appreciation for diverse perspectives.

Introduction

2min

Exploring Beliefs, Attitudes, and Values

13min

Motivations behind Scientists and Conspiracy Theorists

12min

Understanding Cognitive Dissonance

24min

A Profound Encounter with Belief and Compassion

4min

Connection and Respect in Communication

7min

Closing Conversation and Resources

5min

Host Michael Taft speaks with science journalist, author, and podcaster David McRaney about how people do (and do not) change their minds, how brains form their view of reality, conspiracy theory, the method of "technique rebuttal" vs. "topic rebuttal,' QAnon, motivated reasoning, the psychology of belief, and much more.

David McRaney is a science journalist and an internationally bestselling author, podcaster, and lecturer who created You Are Not So Smart.

David began a blog writing about the psychology of reasoning in 2009. That blog became an internationally bestselling book published by Penguin in 2011, now available in 17 languages. His second book, You Are Now Less Dumb, released in July of 2013, and his third book, How Minds Change, all about how people do and do not update their beliefs and attitudes as indiviudals and cultures, will be released by Penguin in 2021.

David currently hosts a bi-weekly, top-100 podcast about human judgment and decision-making, and travels around the planet giving lectures on the topics he covers in his books, blog, and podcast. In 2015, David appeared as himself in a national ad campaign for Reebok which he co-wrote. His writing has also been featured in campaigns for Heineken, Duck Tape, and others. He is currently working on a documentary about IQ and genius and a television show about how to better predict the impact of technological disruption.

- youarenotsosmart.com

- medium.com/@davidmcraney

- twitter.com/davidmcraney

- davidmcraney.com

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