Episode description

What makes rational people adopt irrational beliefs? And, what can we do to bridge the growing divide in society?

Here to help us answer those questions is today’s guest, Dr. Dan Ariely. Dan is a renowned behavioral economist, Duke University professor, and author, known for his groundbreaking research on human decision-making, irrationality, and the psychology behind beliefs and behavior. 

I’ve admired Dan’s work for a long time – his insights into how stress, cognition, and social factors influence our beliefs have been groundbreaking. He’s the author of multiple best-selling books, including Predictably Irrational and his latest work, Misbelief – where he tackles how seemingly rational people come to believe in, and fiercely defend, things that just aren’t true.

In today’s conversation, we dive deep into the psychology of belief and the importance of challenging our own assumptions. Dan shares the fascinating ways stress and cognitive biases can lead us down paths of misbelief, and how empathy and curiosity can help us bridge divides in this polarized world. 

Whether you’re interested in the intricacies of human psychology, the challenges of navigating modern-day stress, or simply want to learn how to better understand those around you, this episode is packed with insights that will make you think deeply about the world we live in. It may just change how you think about your own beliefs and rationality.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.