Erica Boothby

Erica Boothby, a psychologist at the Wharton School, studies social illusions and their effects on relationships. She reveals the 'liking gap,' where people underestimate how much others enjoy their company. Boothby discusses the 'illusion of transparency,' highlighting that we often overthink how our flaws are perceived. The impact of social anxiety and the importance of open communication in friendships are also key themes. Listeners are encouraged to reassess their views on self-perception for more fulfilling social interactions.

It's not easy to know how we come across to others, especially when we're meeting people for the first time. Psychologist Erica Boothby says many of us underestimate how much other people actually like us. In the second installment of our Mind Reading 2.0 series, we look at how certain social illusions give us a distorted picture of ourselves. If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, My Unsung Hero! And if you’d like to support our work, you can do so at support.hiddenbrain.org.