We may be operating under a delusion, but it's not our fault. Two cognitive biases contribute to this illusion. First, we tend to focus on negative information about unfamiliar people, which creates the impression that the world is full of bad actors. Second, bad memories fade faster than good ones, leading us to forget or view them more positively over time.
A lot of people are plagued by the feeling that society used to be better, that neighbors were more helpful, that strangers once talked to you. Some people channel that belief into political action, as in the Make America Great Again movement. A new study explains why the sense that people and the culture have gotten worse is a psychological illusion. This special episode features Hanna Rosin, the host of Radio Atlantic. Subscribe and find new episodes of Radio Atlantic every Thursday.
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