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#180 – Hugo Mercier on why gullibility and misinformation are overrated

80,000 Hours Podcast

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The Myth of Brainwashing and Subliminal Influence

Research suggests that when people are distracted, not paying much attention, tired, or feel unable to judge ideas, they tend to stop changing their minds to avoid making mistakes. This behavior has led to the myth of brainwashing and subliminal influence where the belief was that subtle messages, like quickly flashing words in a movie, could influence behavior without conscious awareness. However, there is no evidence to support these claims, and they were likely fabricated to sell books. Additionally, the concept of brainwashing, using extreme methods like deprivation and coercion to convert individuals to a particular ideology, has been debunked as ineffective. Attempts during wars to brainwash prisoners of war into becoming communists failed, with only a few falsely claiming conversion to escape harsh treatment.

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