Behavioral Grooves Podcast Eight Years Grooving: The Psychology of Scams | Dan Simons and Chris Chabris (Republish)
Sep 25, 2025
Daniel Simons, a psychology professor known for his research on attention and memory, and Christopher Chabris, a decision sciences expert, dive into why we fall for scams. They discuss cognitive biases that make us vulnerable and highlight the importance of targeted skepticism. The duo also shares practical tips for spotting fraud in research and everyday life, emphasizing the value of admitting mistakes for building trust. Plus, they touch on the rise of scientific fraud and modern scam operations, all while keeping it engaging and informative.
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Repetition Builds Belief Fast
- Repetition strongly increases belief even after a single repeat due to the illusory truth effect.
- Daniel Simons warns that one repetition can shift people's belief without adding truth.
Cognitive Habits Become Scam Vectors
- Scammers exploit common cognitive habits and appealing 'hooks' that usually help us decide quickly.
- Dan Simons explains these efficient habits get hijacked into predictable scam patterns.
Pre-Register Methods To Reduce Bias
- Use registered reports: pre-register your methods and analyses before data collection to prevent story-driven publishing.
- Daniel Simons recommends review of methods first so studies are judged by design, not by desirable outcomes.
