Big Picture Science - Skeptic Check: Useful Delusions
Can self-deception be
useful? During the pandemic, it has been fashionable to say that we’re
“following the science,” and that our behavior is determined by verifiable
facts. We are, after all, self-declared rational beings, and that’s clearly
useful in guiding our reaction to a pandemic. It’s true that fear and suspicion
have caused some to make contrary choices such as declining vaccines, but that
behavior is considered irrational. But are there situations when delusional
thinking can help you thrive? Why are we not as rational as we think?
Guests:
- Steven Novella – Neurologist and professor at Yale University School of Medicine. Host of the Skeptics Guide to the Universe podcast.
- Shankar Vedantam – Host of the Hidden Brain podcast and radio show, and co-author of “Useful Delusions: The Power & Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain.”
Download podcast at - http://bigpicturescience.org/episodes/skeptic-check-useful-delusions
You can listen to this and other episodes at http://bigpicturescience.org/, and be sure to check out Blog Picture Science, the companion blog to the radio show.
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