The Devil's Advocate

March 25, 2018
In a world awash in data, you'd think it would be relatively easy to make informed, objective decisions. But not if you only see what you want to see.

On this episode of Choiceology with Dan Heath, we look at the tendency to favor information that confirms pre-existing beliefs.

  • The episode begins in Europe in the 16th century, with a secret debate about sainthood, and then moves to a harrowing story of crime and punishment in contemporary America.
  • Neuroscientist Tali Sharot explains the biological roots of this bias, and how it is actually a fundamentally useful mental shortcut. Her book is called The Influential Mind.
  • Dean Gillispie is now listed with the National Registry of Exonerations.
  • Mark Godsey's book on his experience advocating for Dean Gillispie is called Blind Injustice.

Choiceology is an original podcast from Charles Schwab.

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