“Our brains don’t let
piddling little facts get in the way of a good story, allowing lies to infect
the mind with suprising ease.”
By: David Robson
Published: BBC, 24
March 2016, http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20160323-why-are-people-so-incredibly-gullible
Level of Difficulty: **
BEFORE YOU READ
·
Experts Explain: Norbert Schwarz and Eryn Newman
on 'Truthiness' and Political Fact Checks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNf6MiIti1o
QUESTIONS
1.
What conclusion can be drawn from the account of
flesh eating bananas?
2.
Why is the story of the flesh eating bananas
significant?
3.
What examples are provided in the text of the
above?
4.
Look at the two questions in the text quickly
and answer them. Why, according to the text, did you not notice the mistake?
5.
We understand from the text that our decisions are
influenced less by cognitive powers / rational arguments / instinctive
reactions / family and friends / statements by celebrities.
6.
Consider the following example: a woman is in an
abusive relationship. She complains about it every day to her neighbor. One
day, she hits him over the head because she says he was trying to beat her.
Would the neighbor believe her when she says she hit him in self defense? Would
the neighbor believe the husband if he said he hadn’t touched her? Why?
7.
Read the following excerpt from a paper by Prof.
Simon Springer “The
choice of doing the first conference in an Italian small town like Reggio
Emilia, where an established local anarchist movement already promoted events
and publications on anarchist geographers is instrumental to the capital tasks
of continuing a discussion among scholars and militants from different
linguistic and cultural areas, and ensuring discussions involve grassroots
movements and militant situations outside the academy” . How effective would he be in convincing the rest of his
group to hold the meeting in this town? What suggestions would you give him so
as to improve his chances? Use your own words.
8. Watch
the following two videos:
·
Stephan Lewandowsky - The Rejection Of Climate
Science And Motivated Reasoning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcmOgi5m2pM
·
Stephan Lewandowsky: Denial of Science Always
Involves a Component of Conspiratorial Thought https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i3UJDd_spU
Now explain clearly why some people reacted so
strongly to the Professor’s papers?
9.
Read the first two paragraphs of the section
titled “Fraying Myths”. We can draw the conclusion from this section that:
·
Debunked myths are an integral part of our mental
models
·
It is very hard to get rid of a debunked myth
·
Our world views determine who we are as people
·
People don’t like gaps in their mental
representation
10. There is a belief that leaches are useful in the treatment of varicose veins. In fact the leeches are sold openly for this purpose. But a respected doctor, Gregg A. Reger, MD
10. There is a belief that leaches are useful in the treatment of varicose veins. In fact the leeches are sold openly for this purpose. But a respected doctor, Gregg A. Reger, MD
says
the following: “Leeches
would have no effect on varicose veins but other highly effective treatments
are available”.
Would this be enough to convince the leech advocates? Explain.
11.
Now
watch the following video and answer the same question: Would this be enough to
convince the leech advocates? Explain.
12.
Google
the following: The link between autism and the MMR vaccine. Check out the
number of texts and videos. One factor that has fueled belief in this link is:
·
The
number of scientific studies
·
The
number of first-person reports
·
The
amount of evidence to the contrary
·
The
amount of material about the issue
13.
The
conclusion of the text constitutes recent examples / a warning /
implications / flaws / solutions.
WRITING TASK
WHY ARE PEOPLE SO INCREDIBLY GULLIBLE? KEY AND TEACHERS’ NOTES
This is a very topical text as it covers a currently trending topic:
misinformation, and the reasons why we are so ready to believe it. This is a
scientific text and examines the issue in terms of various typical human idiosyncrasies.
The videos relate closely to the text and have been incorporated into the task
1. Humans
are gullible
2. Because
such cracks in our rational thinking can have serious, even dangerous,
consequences
3. HIV
is harmless vitamin D supplements can cure AIDS
4. Because
we to save time and energy, our brains use intuition rather than analysis. I
would not accept “cognitive misers” as an answer because it is not explicit
enough
5. Rational
arguments
6. The
neighbor would believe the woman but not the husband because their story fits
in with her expectations
7. No
he would not be successful; the paragraph lacks cognitive fluency. Possible
answer: he should simplify the language and write in an easy to read font; he
should have a picture of himself and have pictures of the town
8. The
reason was conspiratorial thinking which means believing that nothing happens
by accident, nothing is irrelevant and everything has to have a very sinister
purpose.
9. It
is very hard to get rid of a debunked myth
10. No
it would not because the doctor does not come up with an alternative.
11. Yes
it would because he suggests an alternative form of treatment.
12. The
amount of material about the issue
13. A
warning
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