Tag: Distraction

If our social media feeds consist of people who think just like us, how can we expect social change? In the latest episode of the Interesting People in Interesting Times podcast, Maria Konnikova, author of The Confidence Game, explains what Trump’s lies do to your brain, why we fall for the same tricks every time, and how humanity is hardwired for hope–and why that’s problematic. She explains that what drives all human behavior is simple. While social norms can change very quickly — and especially so, when driven by someone in a position of authority — biases, on the other hand, are deeply set. She describes the concept of cognitive load: your brain can only handle so much, and when you can’t sift through everything, you start to just accept it. People who agree with me. We can’t keep talking to one another and think we’re making a difference.” “The genius of Trump’s approach is that he figures out the version of the world that would make you happy. You feel that the country is about people who are the liberal elite? You’re going to say “There you go, that’s exactly what I’ve been saying all these years.” One of the ways in which Trump is able to do what he does is through sheer repetition. “Humans are lazy,” Konnikova adds.