I want to ask everyone here a question please raise your hand if you would
please raise your hand if you would
please raise your hand if you would recognize truth if it was presented in
recognize truth if it was presented in
recognize truth if it was presented in front of your own eyes so do you
front of your own eyes so do you
front of your own eyes so do you consider yourself a rational person who
consider yourself a rational person who
consider yourself a rational person who is able to see truth ok I’m seeing some
is able to see truth ok I’m seeing some
is able to see truth ok I’m seeing some hands people are a little bit self
hands people are a little bit self
hands people are a little bit self skeptical ok hopefully a lot of rational
skeptical ok hopefully a lot of rational
skeptical ok hopefully a lot of rational people here but I’m going to put you to
people here but I’m going to put you to
people here but I’m going to put you to the test ok ok now is show of hands if
the test ok ok now is show of hands if
the test ok ok now is show of hands if you think the crowd in the picture on
you think the crowd in the picture on
you think the crowd in the picture on the right is larger seems fairly easy
the right is larger seems fairly easy
the right is larger seems fairly easy for you how many people think the crowd
for you how many people think the crowd
for you how many people think the crowd on the left is larger okay that was
on the left is larger okay that was
on the left is larger okay that was fairly easy you got it all right so it
fairly easy you got it all right so it
fairly easy you got it all right so it seems like you are fairly rational
seems like you are fairly rational
seems like you are fairly rational people and as most you recognize these
people and as most you recognize these
people and as most you recognize these pictures were taken 8 years apart from
pictures were taken 8 years apart from
pictures were taken 8 years apart from almost exactly the same angle at
almost exactly the same angle at
almost exactly the same angle at President Barack Obama’s presidential
President Barack Obama’s presidential
President Barack Obama’s presidential inauguration in 2009 and Donald Trump’s
inauguration in 2009 and Donald Trump’s
inauguration in 2009 and Donald Trump’s inauguration just a few months ago and
inauguration just a few months ago and
inauguration just a few months ago and as you can see from the crowds the
as you can see from the crowds the
as you can see from the crowds the pictures here the crowd was much larger
pictures here the crowd was much larger
pictures here the crowd was much larger at Barack Obama’s inauguration than
at Barack Obama’s inauguration than
at Barack Obama’s inauguration than Donald Trump’s nevertheless Donald Trump
Donald Trump’s nevertheless Donald Trump
Donald Trump’s nevertheless Donald Trump took to Twitter as he often does to
took to Twitter as he often does to
took to Twitter as he often does to boast about the immense crowd he said
boast about the immense crowd he said
boast about the immense crowd he said this might be one of the biggest it was
this might be one of the biggest it was
this might be one of the biggest it was a massive turnout and the very next day
a massive turnout and the very next day
a massive turnout and the very next day his press secretary Sean Spicer took
his press secretary Sean Spicer took
his press secretary Sean Spicer took pictures of the crowd in his very first
pictures of the crowd in his very first
pictures of the crowd in his very first press briefing on national TV and
press briefing on national TV and
press briefing on national TV and pointed out that this was in fact the
pointed out that this was in fact the
pointed out that this was in fact the largest audience to witness an
largest audience to witness an
largest audience to witness an inauguration period both in person and
inauguration period both in person and
inauguration period both in person and around the globe and so he was
around the globe and so he was
around the globe and so he was presenting what Kellyanne Conway another
presenting what Kellyanne Conway another
presenting what Kellyanne Conway another member of the Trump White House later
member of the Trump White House later
member of the Trump White House later called an alternative fact so an
called an alternative fact so an
called an alternative fact so an alternative fact here is the idea that
alternative fact here is the idea that
alternative fact here is the idea that both facts are true the crowd for our
both facts are true the crowd for our
both facts are true the crowd for our Trump is larger as is Obama’s crowd and
Trump is larger as is Obama’s crowd and
Trump is larger as is Obama’s crowd and so even when presented with the
so even when presented with the
so even when presented with the photographic evidence as well as
photographic evidence as well as
photographic evidence as well as ridership numbers in DC on that day that
ridership numbers in DC on that day that
ridership numbers in DC on that day that contradicted this she clung to this
contradicted this she clung to this
contradicted this she clung to this notion of alternative facts and this
notion of alternative facts and this
notion of alternative facts and this struck many people as eerily familiar
struck many people as eerily familiar
struck many people as eerily familiar and many people pointed
and many people pointed
and many people pointed to the similarities to George Orwell’s
to the similarities to George Orwell’s
to the similarities to George Orwell’s famous book 1984 and within days the
famous book 1984 and within days the
famous book 1984 and within days the sales for 1984 shot up by nine thousand
sales for 1984 shot up by nine thousand
sales for 1984 shot up by nine thousand five hundred percent it became a
five hundred percent it became a
five hundred percent it became a best-selling book for the first time in
best-selling book for the first time in
best-selling book for the first time in decades and perhaps the most striking
decades and perhaps the most striking
decades and perhaps the most striking parallel to me anyways was this quote
parallel to me anyways was this quote
parallel to me anyways was this quote from Orwell the party told you to reject
from Orwell the party told you to reject
from Orwell the party told you to reject the evidence of your own eyes and ears
the evidence of your own eyes and ears
the evidence of your own eyes and ears it was their final and most essential
it was their final and most essential
it was their final and most essential command and this was the essence of the
command and this was the essence of the
command and this was the essence of the book which is that totally totalitarian
book which is that totally totalitarian
book which is that totally totalitarian government was asking people to deny
government was asking people to deny
government was asking people to deny their own eyes and ears and they were
their own eyes and ears and they were
their own eyes and ears and they were rewriting facts and presenting
rewriting facts and presenting
rewriting facts and presenting alternative reality to their citizens
alternative reality to their citizens
alternative reality to their citizens now we’re trump voters or was Trump
now we’re trump voters or was Trump
now we’re trump voters or was Trump perhaps denying the evidence presented
perhaps denying the evidence presented
perhaps denying the evidence presented in front of his own eyes well they
in front of his own eyes well they
in front of his own eyes well they actually did a study on this some
actually did a study on this some
actually did a study on this some researchers in the United States
researchers in the United States
researchers in the United States collected data from thirteen hundred and
collected data from thirteen hundred and
collected data from thirteen hundred and eighty-eight American citizens and
eighty-eight American citizens and
eighty-eight American citizens and showed them this picture with the same
showed them this picture with the same
showed them this picture with the same simple question I asked you they asked
simple question I asked you they asked
simple question I asked you they asked which crowd is larger looking at these
which crowd is larger looking at these
which crowd is larger looking at these two pictures and like you people found
two pictures and like you people found
two pictures and like you people found this remarkably easy as you can see
this remarkably easy as you can see
this remarkably easy as you can see accuracy for almost everybody in the
accuracy for almost everybody in the
accuracy for almost everybody in the study was close to a hundred percent
study was close to a hundred percent
study was close to a hundred percent people could easily tell which crowd was
people could easily tell which crowd was
people could easily tell which crowd was larger based on these two photos side by
larger based on these two photos side by
larger based on these two photos side by side with one exception about 15 percent
side with one exception about 15 percent
side with one exception about 15 percent of Donald Trump supporters seem to
of Donald Trump supporters seem to
of Donald Trump supporters seem to reject the evidence presented to their
reject the evidence presented to their
reject the evidence presented to their own eyes exactly what Orwell was talking
own eyes exactly what Orwell was talking
own eyes exactly what Orwell was talking about they said that the picture on the
about they said that the picture on the
about they said that the picture on the left was larger and these were not
left was larger and these were not
left was larger and these were not labeled with Trump or Obama on them they
labeled with Trump or Obama on them they
labeled with Trump or Obama on them they were just saying that that crowd looked
were just saying that that crowd looked
were just saying that that crowd looked larger given the two photos and nothing
larger given the two photos and nothing
larger given the two photos and nothing else I just want to say here that
else I just want to say here that
else I just want to say here that liberals are not the only people to
liberals are not the only people to
liberals are not the only people to believe lies there was an analysis done
believe lies there was an analysis done
believe lies there was an analysis done recently of hyper-partisan websites
recently of hyper-partisan websites
recently of hyper-partisan websites online and 40% of stories in
online and 40% of stories in
online and 40% of stories in hyper-partisan conservative websites had
hyper-partisan conservative websites had
hyper-partisan conservative websites had lies in them and liberals were sharing
lies in them and liberals were sharing
lies in them and liberals were sharing stories with lies too almost 20% of the
stories with lies too almost 20% of the
stories with lies too almost 20% of the stories that liberals were seeing on
stories that liberals were seeing on
stories that liberals were seeing on these hyper-partisan web sites were lies
these hyper-partisan web sites were lies
these hyper-partisan web sites were lies or had some lie in it I’m thankfully the
or had some lie in it I’m thankfully the
or had some lie in it I’m thankfully the mainstream media which has been taking a
mainstream media which has been taking a
mainstream media which has been taking a lot of flak lately was almost perfectly
lot of flak lately was almost perfectly
lot of flak lately was almost perfectly accurate there was almost no lies in any
accurate there was almost no lies in any
accurate there was almost no lies in any of these stories
of these stories
of these stories were detectable this example about
were detectable this example about
were detectable this example about American politics might sound trivial
American politics might sound trivial
American politics might sound trivial but the implications are much bigger
but the implications are much bigger
but the implications are much bigger than that and this is what to me is much
than that and this is what to me is much
than that and this is what to me is much more troubling we are having debates
more troubling we are having debates
more troubling we are having debates over basic facts about whether this
over basic facts about whether this
over basic facts about whether this globe that we live on is warming we are
globe that we live on is warming we are
globe that we live on is warming we are having basic facts about things like the
having basic facts about things like the
having basic facts about things like the efficacy of vaccinations does it help
efficacy of vaccinations does it help
efficacy of vaccinations does it help people does it cause autism when you’re
people does it cause autism when you’re
people does it cause autism when you’re debating basic facts and this has led
debating basic facts and this has led
debating basic facts and this has led Time magazine recently to ask is truth
Time magazine recently to ask is truth
Time magazine recently to ask is truth dead if we’re going to debate things
dead if we’re going to debate things
dead if we’re going to debate things that scientists have proven if people
that scientists have proven if people
that scientists have proven if people are going to disagree with photographic
are going to disagree with photographic
are going to disagree with photographic evidence presented in their eyes in
evidence presented in their eyes in
evidence presented in their eyes in front of their own eyes have we lost
front of their own eyes have we lost
front of their own eyes have we lost sense of truth are we all post
sense of truth are we all post
sense of truth are we all post modernists as it were one of my favorite
modernists as it were one of my favorite
modernists as it were one of my favorite quotes was by a US Senator Daniel
quotes was by a US Senator Daniel
quotes was by a US Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan who once said that
Patrick Moynihan who once said that
Patrick Moynihan who once said that everyone is entitled to his own opinion
everyone is entitled to his own opinion
everyone is entitled to his own opinion but not his own facts and that’s
but not his own facts and that’s
but not his own facts and that’s critical because if we’re ever gonna
critical because if we’re ever gonna
critical because if we’re ever gonna resolve any of these problems we have to
resolve any of these problems we have to
resolve any of these problems we have to first start with a shared understanding
first start with a shared understanding
first start with a shared understanding of what reality is and then if we accept
of what reality is and then if we accept
of what reality is and then if we accept that the globe is warming we can debate
that the globe is warming we can debate
that the globe is warming we can debate how we’re gonna solve that problem
how we’re gonna solve that problem
how we’re gonna solve that problem there’s a lot of reasonable arguments
there’s a lot of reasonable arguments
there’s a lot of reasonable arguments about different strategies but if we can
about different strategies but if we can
about different strategies but if we can never agree on the fact to begin with we
never agree on the fact to begin with we
never agree on the fact to begin with we have no basis for even discussing how to
have no basis for even discussing how to
have no basis for even discussing how to solve it and that is led Stephen Colbert
solve it and that is led Stephen Colbert
solve it and that is led Stephen Colbert comedian to note that it used to be that
comedian to note that it used to be that
comedian to note that it used to be that everyone was entitled to their own
everyone was entitled to their own
everyone was entitled to their own opinion but not their own facts but
opinion but not their own facts but
opinion but not their own facts but facts don’t matter anymore
facts don’t matter anymore
facts don’t matter anymore perception is everything and so what I’m
perception is everything and so what I’m
perception is everything and so what I’m here to talk to you today about is how
here to talk to you today about is how
here to talk to you today about is how our brain shape our perceptions of
our brain shape our perceptions of
our brain shape our perceptions of reality and then maybe offer some
reality and then maybe offer some
reality and then maybe offer some antidotes for resolving that problem
antidotes for resolving that problem
antidotes for resolving that problem this is one of my favorite cartoons it’s
this is one of my favorite cartoons it’s
this is one of my favorite cartoons it’s from The New Yorker this is a famous
from The New Yorker this is a famous
from The New Yorker this is a famous perceptual illusion for some people they
perceptual illusion for some people they
perceptual illusion for some people they see a duck other people see a rabbit and
see a duck other people see a rabbit and
see a duck other people see a rabbit and these are two armies going to war over
these are two armies going to war over
these are two armies going to war over whether or not they accept their duck
whether or not they accept their duck
whether or not they accept their duck God or the rabbit God and this might
God or the rabbit God and this might
God or the rabbit God and this might sound absurd people are laughing but
sound absurd people are laughing but
sound absurd people are laughing but that recently happened how many people
that recently happened how many people
that recently happened how many people see this dress as a white and gold by
see this dress as a white and gold by
see this dress as a white and gold by show hands okay about half of you how
show hands okay about half of you how
show hands okay about half of you how many people see it as black and blue I
many people see it as black and blue I
many people see it as black and blue I see it as black and low I see people
see it as black and low I see people
see it as black and low I see people looking each other like are you crazy
looking each other like are you crazy
looking each other like are you crazy like what what’s going on here and
like what what’s going on here and
like what what’s going on here and that’s exactly what happened when this
that’s exactly what happened when this
that’s exactly what happened when this photograph was taken it went viral and
photograph was taken it went viral and
photograph was taken it went viral and people got in yelling matches not only
people got in yelling matches not only
people got in yelling matches not only at the wedding where this was originally
at the wedding where this was originally
at the wedding where this was originally in Scotland but online people are
in Scotland but online people are
in Scotland but online people are yelling at each other about how their
yelling at each other about how their
yelling at each other about how their idiots and fools and can’t see reality
idiots and fools and can’t see reality
idiots and fools and can’t see reality what’s obviously true I just led Ellen
what’s obviously true I just led Ellen
what’s obviously true I just led Ellen to post this tweet which she said from
to post this tweet which she said from
to post this tweet which she said from this day on the world will be divided
this day on the world will be divided
this day on the world will be divided it’s two people the black and blue
it’s two people the black and blue
it’s two people the black and blue people and no white and gold people and
people and no white and gold people and
people and no white and gold people and essentially this is what happens when we
essentially this is what happens when we
essentially this is what happens when we don’t agree on reality it divides us now
don’t agree on reality it divides us now
don’t agree on reality it divides us now where is this coming from why are we so
where is this coming from why are we so
where is this coming from why are we so divided on politics and on our
divided on politics and on our
divided on politics and on our interpretations of reality and truth
interpretations of reality and truth
interpretations of reality and truth there’s two good reasons for it the
there’s two good reasons for it the
there’s two good reasons for it the first reason is that our biology is
first reason is that our biology is
first reason is that our biology is different so there’s more and more
different so there’s more and more
different so there’s more and more evidence emerging that liberals and
evidence emerging that liberals and
evidence emerging that liberals and conservatives have different genetic
conservatives have different genetic
conservatives have different genetic foundations that are biological parents
foundations that are biological parents
foundations that are biological parents give us a certain genetic heritage that
give us a certain genetic heritage that
give us a certain genetic heritage that shapes how we interact with other people
shapes how we interact with other people
shapes how we interact with other people in the world what policies we find
in the world what policies we find
in the world what policies we find acceptable in essence were predisposed
acceptable in essence were predisposed
acceptable in essence were predisposed to believe certain things and this has
to believe certain things and this has
to believe certain things and this has been followed up by recent research
been followed up by recent research
been followed up by recent research looking at the structural differences in
looking at the structural differences in
looking at the structural differences in the brains of liberals and conservatives
the brains of liberals and conservatives
the brains of liberals and conservatives this work was done in England and they
this work was done in England and they
this work was done in England and they also ran it with a couple of politicians
also ran it with a couple of politicians
also ran it with a couple of politicians and they found that there are
and they found that there are
and they found that there are differences in core structures in the
differences in core structures in the
differences in core structures in the brain between liberals and conservatives
brain between liberals and conservatives
brain between liberals and conservatives and so what this suggests is that our
and so what this suggests is that our
and so what this suggests is that our brains are different
brains are different
brains are different another factor the second factor is that
another factor the second factor is that
another factor the second factor is that through evolution our brains were carved
through evolution our brains were carved
through evolution our brains were carved to cooperate and coordinate as groups
to cooperate and coordinate as groups
to cooperate and coordinate as groups every single culture on earth forms
every single culture on earth forms
every single culture on earth forms coalition’s and groups and identifies
coalition’s and groups and identifies
coalition’s and groups and identifies with groups and this was very successful
with groups and this was very successful
with groups and this was very successful for out competing other groups and out
for out competing other groups and out
for out competing other groups and out competing other species but it leads to
competing other species but it leads to
competing other species but it leads to a massive intergroup conflict and so
a massive intergroup conflict and so
a massive intergroup conflict and so even though it’s functional in the
even though it’s functional in the
even though it’s functional in the savanna it is a disaster when it’s
savanna it is a disaster when it’s
savanna it is a disaster when it’s applied to politics and so when we think
applied to politics and so when we think
applied to politics and so when we think about how people are debating and seeing
about how people are debating and seeing
about how people are debating and seeing the facts behind certain issues from
the facts behind certain issues from
the facts behind certain issues from inauguration crowds to global warming to
inauguration crowds to global warming to
inauguration crowds to global warming to vaccination these insights can help us
vaccination these insights can help us
vaccination these insights can help us understand why people are seeing it
understand why people are seeing it
understand why people are seeing it differently and maybe give us some
differently and maybe give us some
differently and maybe give us some insights about how we can intervene so
insights about how we can intervene so
insights about how we can intervene so if you’re like me the first thing you do
if you’re like me the first thing you do
if you’re like me the first thing you do in the morning is you roll over I turn
in the morning is you roll over I turn
in the morning is you roll over I turn on my phone and I check my favorite news
on my phone and I check my favorite news
on my phone and I check my favorite news sites and what I’m doing there is that
sites and what I’m doing there is that
sites and what I’m doing there is that I’m seeing different news different
I’m seeing different news different
I’m seeing different news different facts to reach in my mind that are
facts to reach in my mind that are
facts to reach in my mind that are probably different than my neighbour
probably different than my neighbour
probably different than my neighbour because I select new sites that I enjoy
because I select new sites that I enjoy
because I select new sites that I enjoy the other thing that happens
the other thing that happens
the other thing that happens is that I checked my social media and if
is that I checked my social media and if
is that I checked my social media and if you’re not aware of this now we are
you’re not aware of this now we are
you’re not aware of this now we are living in echo chambers our social media
living in echo chambers our social media
living in echo chambers our social media because of our likes and dislikes
because of our likes and dislikes
because of our likes and dislikes becomes carefully curated and becomes a
becomes carefully curated and becomes a
becomes carefully curated and becomes a reflection of our own values and so you
reflection of our own values and so you
reflection of our own values and so you can go to The Wall Street Journal they
can go to The Wall Street Journal they
can go to The Wall Street Journal they have this amazing website where you can
have this amazing website where you can
have this amazing website where you can select many many political issues like
select many many political issues like
select many many political issues like immigration and you can see what a
immigration and you can see what a
immigration and you can see what a liberal and a conservative are seeing in
liberal and a conservative are seeing in
liberal and a conservative are seeing in their social media feeds at the exact
their social media feeds at the exact
their social media feeds at the exact same time at that moment and it is
same time at that moment and it is
same time at that moment and it is shocking how people are being fed
shocking how people are being fed
shocking how people are being fed different news sources and so how are we
different news sources and so how are we
different news sources and so how are we gonna agree if we’re seeing radically
gonna agree if we’re seeing radically
gonna agree if we’re seeing radically different interpretations of reality so
different interpretations of reality so
different interpretations of reality so that’s already a massive problem but the
that’s already a massive problem but the
that’s already a massive problem but the problem goes much deeper than that
problem goes much deeper than that
problem goes much deeper than that our brains are misinterpreting and
our brains are misinterpreting and
our brains are misinterpreting and processing information differently and
processing information differently and
processing information differently and so we have these beautiful prefrontal
so we have these beautiful prefrontal
so we have these beautiful prefrontal cortices and this is what differentiates
cortices and this is what differentiates
cortices and this is what differentiates us from every other primate on earth
us from every other primate on earth
us from every other primate on earth it’s what allows us to build beautiful
it’s what allows us to build beautiful
it’s what allows us to build beautiful buildings like this to organize events
buildings like this to organize events
buildings like this to organize events like this to cooperate to fly in
like this to cooperate to fly in
like this to cooperate to fly in airplanes we have an enormous capacity
airplanes we have an enormous capacity
airplanes we have an enormous capacity that’s given to us by our prefrontal
that’s given to us by our prefrontal
that’s given to us by our prefrontal cortices but what they do when we’re
cortices but what they do when we’re
cortices but what they do when we’re motivated is reason in ways that can be
motivated is reason in ways that can be
motivated is reason in ways that can be detrimental so although I’m sure all of
detrimental so although I’m sure all of
detrimental so although I’m sure all of you would agree that an educated
you would agree that an educated
you would agree that an educated citizenry is key to helping people see
citizenry is key to helping people see
citizenry is key to helping people see truth and learn how to distinguish fact
truth and learn how to distinguish fact
truth and learn how to distinguish fact from fiction right well that’s wrong
from fiction right well that’s wrong
from fiction right well that’s wrong there is a recent study that had people
there is a recent study that had people
there is a recent study that had people solve a math problem and the solution
solve a math problem and the solution
solve a math problem and the solution either led to the conclusion that gun
either led to the conclusion that gun
either led to the conclusion that gun control was ineffective or that gun
control was ineffective or that gun
control was ineffective or that gun control is effective and what happened
control is effective and what happened
control is effective and what happened was that liberals were able to solve the
was that liberals were able to solve the
was that liberals were able to solve the question pretty well but only if it
question pretty well but only if it
question pretty well but only if it supported their belief system only if it
supported their belief system only if it
supported their belief system only if it came to the conclusion that gun control
came to the conclusion that gun control
came to the conclusion that gun control was effective when it wasn’t effective
was effective when it wasn’t effective
was effective when it wasn’t effective they failed badly and this was true even
they failed badly and this was true even
they failed badly and this was true even of people who were very skilled at math
of people who were very skilled at math
of people who were very skilled at math when conservatives did it they found the
when conservatives did it they found the
when conservatives did it they found the exact opposite effect and so what this
exact opposite effect and so what this
exact opposite effect and so what this study shows is that math skills and
study shows is that math skills and
study shows is that math skills and education and understanding might be
education and understanding might be
education and understanding might be thought to bring us closer together but
thought to bring us closer together but
thought to bring us closer together but in fact it can lead us further apart
in fact it can lead us further apart
in fact it can lead us further apart when we’re motivated we reason in ways
when we’re motivated we reason in ways
when we’re motivated we reason in ways that support our initial belief systems
that support our initial belief systems
that support our initial belief systems and this is one way that politics really
and this is one way that politics really
and this is one way that politics really does rot your brain uh-huh there’s also
does rot your brain uh-huh there’s also
does rot your brain uh-huh there’s also good evidence that we remember things
good evidence that we remember things
good evidence that we remember things differently so many people millions of
differently so many people millions of
differently so many people millions of people continue to believe that there
people continue to believe that there
people continue to believe that there were weapons
were weapons
were weapons mass destruction in Iraq this was
mass destruction in Iraq this was
mass destruction in Iraq this was considered the greatest intelligence
considered the greatest intelligence
considered the greatest intelligence failure in history now
failure in history now
failure in history now that led to a massive disaster hundreds
that led to a massive disaster hundreds
that led to a massive disaster hundreds of thousands of people being injured and
of thousands of people being injured and
of thousands of people being injured and displaced tens of thousands of people
displaced tens of thousands of people
displaced tens of thousands of people dying hundreds of thousands of people
dying hundreds of thousands of people
dying hundreds of thousands of people with psychological trauma to this day
with psychological trauma to this day
with psychological trauma to this day that are being treated but that’s not
that are being treated but that’s not
that are being treated but that’s not just a conservative problem there’s a
just a conservative problem there’s a
just a conservative problem there’s a recent study by researchers who study
recent study by researchers who study
recent study by researchers who study how false mentally memories get
how false mentally memories get
how false mentally memories get implanted in people’s brains and what
implanted in people’s brains and what
implanted in people’s brains and what they found is that conservatives are far
they found is that conservatives are far
they found is that conservatives are far more likely to remember false memories
more likely to remember false memories
more likely to remember false memories that were consistent with their beliefs
that were consistent with their beliefs
that were consistent with their beliefs like the idea that George Bush was
like the idea that George Bush was
like the idea that George Bush was meeting with a celebrity when Hurricane
meeting with a celebrity when Hurricane
meeting with a celebrity when Hurricane Katrina was happening conservatives were
Katrina was happening conservatives were
Katrina was happening conservatives were more likely to remember that Barack
more likely to remember that Barack
more likely to remember that Barack Obama was meeting with the President of
Obama was meeting with the President of
Obama was meeting with the President of Iran which didn’t happen they actually
Iran which didn’t happen they actually
Iran which didn’t happen they actually remembered it as being true and so you
remembered it as being true and so you
remembered it as being true and so you could see people on the left and right
could see people on the left and right
could see people on the left and right are more likely to remember things that
are more likely to remember things that
are more likely to remember things that comport with their beliefs to me the
comport with their beliefs to me the
comport with their beliefs to me the most concerning thing is that it goes
most concerning thing is that it goes
most concerning thing is that it goes even deeper there are some evidence that
even deeper there are some evidence that
even deeper there are some evidence that our politics might even shape our
our politics might even shape our
our politics might even shape our interpretations of basic facts and
interpretations of basic facts and
interpretations of basic facts and reality so one of my favorite studies in
reality so one of my favorite studies in
reality so one of my favorite studies in this area presented people with a video
this area presented people with a video
this area presented people with a video of a protest and police were coming to
of a protest and police were coming to
of a protest and police were coming to arrest protesters something that people
arrest protesters something that people
arrest protesters something that people here probably care a lot about how these
here probably care a lot about how these
here probably care a lot about how these how protesters are treated well in this
how protesters are treated well in this
how protesters are treated well in this case they either told participants that
case they either told participants that
case they either told participants that these were anti-abortion protesters or
these were anti-abortion protesters or
these were anti-abortion protesters or not and what they found is that liberals
not and what they found is that liberals
not and what they found is that liberals thought that the protesters were much
thought that the protesters were much
thought that the protesters were much more violent when they were described as
more violent when they were described as
more violent when they were described as anti-abortion protesters and
anti-abortion protesters and
anti-abortion protesters and conservatives thought they were peaceful
conservatives thought they were peaceful
conservatives thought they were peaceful and so these people are saying the exact
and so these people are saying the exact
and so these people are saying the exact same video to their retina to their
same video to their retina to their
same video to their retina to their perceptual system and drawing opposite
perceptual system and drawing opposite
perceptual system and drawing opposite conclusions about what had happened here
conclusions about what had happened here
conclusions about what had happened here you can think of how this might impact
you can think of how this might impact
you can think of how this might impact how we all see the news even if we are
how we all see the news even if we are
how we all see the news even if we are reading the same news watching the same
reading the same news watching the same
reading the same news watching the same channels we’re interpreting it through
channels we’re interpreting it through
channels we’re interpreting it through different lenses
different lenses
different lenses now I’m gonna hopefully help you leave
now I’m gonna hopefully help you leave
now I’m gonna hopefully help you leave on a hopeful note so imagine that you
on a hopeful note so imagine that you
on a hopeful note so imagine that you could give people an antidote to help
could give people an antidote to help
could give people an antidote to help them see clearly to open their eyes what
them see clearly to open their eyes what
them see clearly to open their eyes what would you do I’m gonna give you three
would you do I’m gonna give you three
would you do I’m gonna give you three piece of advice that might help the
piece of advice that might help the
piece of advice that might help the first one is that you have to consider
first one is that you have to consider
first one is that you have to consider the possibility that you’re wrong that
the possibility that you’re wrong that
the possibility that you’re wrong that you’re miss perceiving reality as I’ve
you’re miss perceiving reality as I’ve
you’re miss perceiving reality as I’ve pointed out continuously here everybody
pointed out continuously here everybody
pointed out continuously here everybody thinks they’re seeing reality even when
thinks they’re seeing reality even when
thinks they’re seeing reality even when we’re not this is known as naive realism
we’re not this is known as naive realism
we’re not this is known as naive realism and so you first need to check your
and so you first need to check your
and so you first need to check your facts to ensure that you’re correct
facts to ensure that you’re correct
facts to ensure that you’re correct you’re not the one miss perceiving
you’re not the one miss perceiving
you’re not the one miss perceiving things the second thing is that fact
things the second thing is that fact
things the second thing is that fact checks do work and people can reason
checks do work and people can reason
checks do work and people can reason effectively when they’re presented with
effectively when they’re presented with
effectively when they’re presented with data but it doesn’t happen if they’re
data but it doesn’t happen if they’re
data but it doesn’t happen if they’re presented with data from somebody they
presented with data from somebody they
presented with data from somebody they don’t trust and so the erosion of trust
don’t trust and so the erosion of trust
don’t trust and so the erosion of trust in the media is a huge problem because
in the media is a huge problem because
in the media is a huge problem because it means that people aren’t gonna accept
it means that people aren’t gonna accept
it means that people aren’t gonna accept the facts when they’re presented to them
the facts when they’re presented to them
the facts when they’re presented to them from those sources so you have to
from those sources so you have to
from those sources so you have to present it from a fact source that
present it from a fact source that
present it from a fact source that people actually trust and third you need
people actually trust and third you need
people actually trust and third you need to open people’s minds and what research
to open people’s minds and what research
to open people’s minds and what research suggests is the best one of the best
suggests is the best one of the best
suggests is the best one of the best ways to do that is to listen to
ways to do that is to listen to
ways to do that is to listen to somebody’s perspective and affirm their
somebody’s perspective and affirm their
somebody’s perspective and affirm their common humanity listening helps you
common humanity listening helps you
common humanity listening helps you understand why they believe what they do
understand why they believe what they do
understand why they believe what they do and potentially find a ground for
and potentially find a ground for
and potentially find a ground for convincing them or correcting their
convincing them or correcting their
convincing them or correcting their misinterpretations or maybe
misinterpretations or maybe
misinterpretations or maybe understanding that they have an
understanding that they have an
understanding that they have an alternative insight that you don’t have
alternative insight that you don’t have
alternative insight that you don’t have and affirming them is key to making them
and affirming them is key to making them
and affirming them is key to making them less defensive because if people are
less defensive because if people are
less defensive because if people are defensive about their beliefs which we
defensive about their beliefs which we
defensive about their beliefs which we know they are they can react and some
know they are they can react and some
know they are they can react and some people have even called this the
people have even called this the
people have even called this the backfire effect where you present people
backfire effect where you present people
backfire effect where you present people with vaccination facts about how it’s
with vaccination facts about how it’s
with vaccination facts about how it’s effective they sometimes can even double
effective they sometimes can even double
effective they sometimes can even double down and harden their original beliefs
down and harden their original beliefs
down and harden their original beliefs so you have to be very careful on how
so you have to be very careful on how
so you have to be very careful on how you approach people when you try to
you approach people when you try to
you approach people when you try to convince them of some truth now this was
convince them of some truth now this was
convince them of some truth now this was just a first step for opening a dialogue
just a first step for opening a dialogue
just a first step for opening a dialogue and trying to talk to people and try to
and trying to talk to people and try to
and trying to talk to people and try to share a common sense of reality but it’s
share a common sense of reality but it’s
share a common sense of reality but it’s a critical first step because if we’re
a critical first step because if we’re
a critical first step because if we’re gonna solve major issues like climate
gonna solve major issues like climate
gonna solve major issues like climate change vaccinations globalization save
change vaccinations globalization save
change vaccinations globalization save our democracy you need to start by
our democracy you need to start by
our democracy you need to start by having a common basis thank you very
having a common basis thank you very
having a common basis thank you very much
much
much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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