#125 How Minds Change | David McRaney

We humans like to be right about things. As you’ll hear in this episode, our self-image and our perception of being trustworthy to others can feel threatened when our thinking is questioned. After all, within our own brains, our thought processes make perfect sense—at least to us—so how could we be wrong?

And, outside of our own brains, we’ve all had the painful experience of failing to sway someone’s opinion even when the facts and data are clearly on our side.

Why are minds so difficult to change? What are the cognitive biases that may get in the way of us thinking something through? And how can we override these tendencies to make better decisions and live fuller lives?

Fortunately, I know just the guy to ask! David McRaney (https://www.davidmcraney.com/) a journalist, a self-described psychology nerd, and a self-delusion expert. He has written many books describing how our brains work (and how they don’t) including his bestselling book with a super cheeky title “You Are Not So Smart.” His most recent book, “How Minds Change” is a very important contribution to psychology and I am not alone in my high-regard for David. Publisher’s Weekly writes, “McRaney makes a convincing case . . . and backs it up with what science has to say about ‘replac[ing] old ignorance with new wisdom.’”

So, listen in has David and I talk about how minds change.

Book Link: https://amzn.to/3Ns7NWt