Rationally Speaking Podcast
Rationally Speaking #23 - Carol Tavris on Everybody Making Mistakes, Except Us...
Dec 5, 2010
Exploring cognitive dissonance and biases, Carol Tavris discusses how our need to justify our beliefs leads to rationalization and mistreatment of others. She highlights the fallibility of human memory and cultural variations in handling cognitive dissonance. Strategies for navigating critical thinking and engaging with differing viewpoints are also explored, emphasizing the importance of objectivity and compassion.
48:03
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Quick takeaways
- Humans tend to rationalize behaviors to maintain self-image, impacting critical thinking and decision-making.
- Memory plays a role in rationalization, with biased reconstruction influencing how individuals interpret past experiences.
Deep dives
The Rationalizing Animal vs. The Rational Animal
Humans tend to rationalize their behaviors rather than always acting rationally. This behavior was discussed in the context of Aristotle's idea that humans are rational animals, while research indicates that humans often rationalize their actions. Understanding cognitive dissonance and biases helps in compensating for these tendencies, leading to improved critical thinking and decision-making.
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