Why You Believe The Things You Do

Why You Believe The Things You Do

What you believe to be true is influenced by how much you want it to be true. This concept is beautifully articulated by the statement - "The more something helps you deal with uncertainty, the lower the bar is for you to believe it’s true." This phenomenon of belief becomes particularly evident during times of crisis or uncertainty, when people are willing to believe almost anything that offers hope. In Daniel Defoe's description of the Great Plague of London, he noted that the people were more inclined towards prophecies, astrological conjurations, dreams, and old wives' tales than ever before. When faced with the devastating reality of a plague killing a quarter of their neighbors, the need for hope becomes paramount, leading individuals to believe in even the most unlikely of explanations.

The legal world has its own version of this phenomenon, known as Gibson's Law. It states that "For every PhD, there is an equal and opposite PhD." In other words, no matter what argument you're trying to make, you can always find a qualified expert witness who is willing to support your viewpoint, even if it means doing so under oath for a fee. This highlights the fact that people can be led to believe and defend almost anything, not necessarily because it is true, but because beliefs often serve other purposes. Beliefs can be used to justify past actions, protect one's reputation, provide hope in times of despair, maximize income, or signal belonging to a particular social group.

The allure of a belief often eclipses its truth. Our memory is fallible, and we cannot possibly remember every detail of our experiences. Instead, we rely on a process of sharpening and leveling. We emphasize certain memories that make for good stories, confirm stereotypes, or connect dots between different experiences, while discarding others. This selective memory plays a significant role in shaping our beliefs, as what we think is true is heavily influenced by what we have personally experienced.

Changing one's mind is rarer than it should be. Admitting a mistake or accepting new information that contradicts our existing beliefs can be challenging. However, the core of a scientific lifestyle is the willingness to change one's mind when faced with evidence that disagrees with our views. Intellectual inertia, the resistance to change, often leads us to cling to false beliefs rather than embracing the truth. Ironically, we often admire leaders who stubbornly stick to their views, considering them "strong," when in reality, they are merely resistant to change.

The great physicist Richard Feynman emphasized the importance of "distrust of experts" as a cornerstone of science. However, in our society, herd mentality and blind faith in authority figures are widespread. While logic should form the basis of scientific reasoning, wishful thinking, irrational fears, and various cognitive biases often dominate our decision-making processes. This disparity between the ideal scientific approach and our actual behavior further highlights the complexity of beliefs and the challenges we face in truly understanding the world around us.

Beliefs are not just about what we know; they are also social signals. They offer clues about how we have established our beliefs, our confidence in our intelligence, and our ability to convey reliable information to others. Ideally, we should seek out experts who are willing to change their minds when faced with new information. However, in reality, what we often desire is someone who is confident enough to never have to change their beliefs. This desire for certainty and the elimination of uncertainty often leads us to believe things that have little relation to reality.

In conclusion, our beliefs are influenced by a multitude of factors, including our desire for certainty, our need for hope, and our tendency to protect our reputation. Changing our minds and embracing new information can be challenging, but it is essential for intellectual growth and the pursuit of truth. To navigate the complexities of belief, here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Embrace intellectual humility: Recognize that you do not have all the answers and be open to the possibility of being wrong. This humility allows for personal growth and the ability to adapt your beliefs when confronted with new evidence.

2. Seek diverse perspectives: Surround yourself with individuals who challenge your beliefs and expose you to different viewpoints. This diversity of thought can help you develop a more nuanced understanding of the world and prevent the formation of echo chambers.

3. Engage in critical thinking: Question your own beliefs and examine the evidence that supports them. Be aware of cognitive biases and logical fallacies that may influence your thinking. By actively engaging in critical thinking, you can make more informed and rational choices.

By incorporating these practices into our lives, we can strive for a more accurate and nuanced understanding of the world and avoid falling prey to false beliefs. It is through this intellectual journey that we can truly unlock the power of knowledge and continue to grow as individuals and as a society.