The Psychology of Misbelief

Dan Arielli, a professor of psychology and behavioral economics, discusses the psychology behind misbelief in his latest book. He explains that fundamental changes in beliefs are often a reaction to stress and the need for a story to explain the unknown. When people face stressful situations that they do not understand, they seek answers and tend to find comfort in narratives that assign blame to external forces rather than accepting personal responsibility. Additionally, cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias and motivated reasoning, contribute to the formation and maintenance of misbeliefs. Personality traits, such as faulty memory and magical ideation, can also make individuals more susceptible to misbelief. The social component, including ostracism and the need for social cohesion, further influences our beliefs and can lead to a breakdown of trust within society.