We are all vulnerable to the irrational beliefs or misbeliefs that permeate social networks, our social circles, and family dinner tables. Even the most level-headed skeptics can get drawn into baseless claims and alternative facts due to compounded stress, fear of not belonging, and the human need to tell a good story. To discover the social and cultural elements that form the funnel of misbelief and how to rebuild trust after a breach, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with the  James B. Duke Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University, Dan Ariely. Dan shares the core tenets of his newest book, Misbelief: What Makes Rational People Believe Irrational Things and offers an explanation for why we have an unjustifiable amount of confidence in knowing more about a subject than we truly do.

Dan Ariely — Misbelief and Mayhem:

Dan shares the story behind his book, Misbelief: What Makes Rational People Believe Irrational Things. {2:22}

Dan describes the elements of the funnel of misbelief that make a person vulnerable to misbeliefs. {5:09}

Intellectual humility involves having a healthy amount of skepticism. {9:49}

The social and cultural aspects of the funnel of misbelief. {17:12}

Dan explains the illusion of explanatory depth and tips about how to rebuild trust with people. {23:35}

This episode of Harvesting Happiness Talk Radio is sponsored by: 

HelloFresh — — Offers farm-fresh meal kits designed to make life easier and happier. Get 50% off plus 15% off the next 2 months at hellofresh.com/50hh and use code 50hh.

About Lisa’s guest:

Dan Ariely PhD is James B. Duke Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University and a founding member of the Center for Advanced Hindsight. He does research in behavioral economics on the irrational ways people behave, described in plain language. Dan has written NY Times best sellers including Predictably Irrational, The Upside of Irrationality, and The Honest Truth About Dishonesty.

“To have a healthy skepticism is important to bring ourselves back to belief.”  - Lisa Cypers Kamen

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