Carol Tavris - Mistakes Were Made But Not By Me
The Psychology of Self-Justification with Carol Tavris
In this episode, Aidan McCullen interviews Carol Tavris, co-author of 'Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me),' to explore the intricacies of cognitive dissonance, self-justification, and memory. They investigate why humans find it difficult to admit mistakes, even in the presence of irrefutable evidence. Through numerous case studies and real-world examples, they discuss the implications of these psychological mechanisms in areas as varied as personal life, law enforcement, and political decision-making. The conversation tackles how these insights can apply to everyone from parents and judges to business leaders and law enforcement, emphasizing the significance of humility, critical thinking, and the human tendency to rewrite personal histories to fit current beliefs.
00:00 Introduction to Self-Justification
01:14 Welcoming the Author: Carol Tavris
02:17 The Premise of the Book
03:06 Understanding Cognitive Dissonance
08:44 Memory and Self-Justification
14:43 Confabulations and False Memories
23:02 The Pyramid of Choice
32:42 Law Enforcement and Wrongful Convictions
37:58 The Importance of Correcting Interrogation Methods
38:33 The Impact of Miscarriages of Justice
38:55 Examples of Recognizing Mistakes
39:52 The 1980s and 90s Hysteria Over Child Abuse
40:21 The McMartin Daycare Scandal
41:06 Flawed Child Interrogation Techniques
42:58 A Case of Misunderstanding: Daddy's Pee Pee
44:53 The Emotional Toll of False Convictions
47:39 The Pyramid of Entrapment and Justification
48:48 The Influence of Bias in Decision Making
50:32 The Role of Pharmaceutical Companies in Medicine
52:06 Moral Choices and Life Decisions
54:55 Understanding and Living with Cognitive Dissonance
01:03:17 The Power of Admitting Mistakes
01:06:58 The Allure of Victim Narratives
01:08:40 Alien Abductions and Hypnagogic States
01:14:17 The Importance of Understanding Human Frailties
Find Carol here:
https://tavris.socialpsychology.org
That Sarah Silverman interview:
https://youtu.be/FUKdUk_QxAA?si=2kUbf2QCKD08wyaP
Carol’s books:
https://tavris.socialpsychology.org/publications
psychology, cognitive dissonance, self-justification, memory, mistakes, humility, ethics, law enforcement, interrogation, wrongful convictions, trauma, alien abductions, confirmation bias, leadership, decision making, self-concept, Carol Tavris (author), Aidan McCullen (host), Elliot Aronson (co-author), Leon Festinger (researcher on cognitive dissonance), James Thurber (author of The Wonderful O), Richard Feynman (scientist and quote source), Mary Carr (memoirist), Joseph Allen (wrongfully convicted), Ronald Reagan (Bitburg cemetery incident), Shimon Peres (comment on Reagan's mistake), Sarah Silverman (Louis C.K. controversy), Louis C.K. (comedian involved in controversy), Jeffrey Cohen (research on political bias), Lee Ross (naive realism), John Mack (psychiatrist on alien abductions), Susan Clancy (researcher on alien abductions), Rich McNally (memory scientist), Antonin Scalia (Supreme Court Justice), Clarence Thomas (Supreme Court Justice), Auburn Blooming (oncologist and co-author)
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