Collective Illusions: Conformity, Complicity, and the Science of Why We Make Bad Decisions
by Todd Rose
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4:17
Author briefly explains “collective illusions” in talking-head format
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Mar, 2022
Spoiler:
Author and co-founder of think tank Populace, Todd Rose explains what “collective illusions” are and asserts that while we have known about this social phenomenon for about a hundred years, there has recently been an explosion in the number of collective illusions observed, something he calls a danger to free society. He states that “a truthful disagreement is always better than a collective illusion.” He sees “conversations” as the way to crumbling collective illusions and bringing about social change.
64:24
In-depth interview with author Todd Rose in video call format
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Aug, 2022
Spoiler:
Candidly discussing some of his early failures, the author segues into the concept of collective illusions: that entire groups of people end up doing something or believing something that almost no one in the group actually believes or wants to do, only because each individual mistakenly thinks that all of the other group members are on board. He states that the dangerous thing about collective illusions is that one generation’s collective illusions tend to become the next generation’s private opinions.
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