Big Think CIA psychology: Ask questions that make people reveal everything | Andrew Bustamante
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Oct 8, 2025 
Andrew Bustamante, a former CIA officer and founder of EverydaySpy.com, delves into the captivating concept of the 'economy of secrets.' He discusses how every conversation can be a negotiation of hidden information, emphasizing the strategic advantages of understanding and leveraging secrets in social interactions. Bustamante elaborates on the classification of secrets and the art of using open questions to glean valuable insights. Listeners gain a fresh perspective on the dynamics of fairness and information superiority, transforming their approach to communication.
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Fairness Is A Social Construct
- The world is governed by predictable behaviors rather than fairness.
- Belief in fairness creates social predictability that systems exploit for control.
Secrets Behave Like Economic Goods
- Secrets operate like economic goods with limited supply and infinite demand.
- The 'economy of secrets' frames secrecy as a market of leverage and value.
Not All Secrets Carry Equal Weight
- Not all secrets have equal value; impact defines their worth.
- Prioritize secrets that produce leverage and avoid trading those that cause major damage.