False Beliefs in a Post-Truth World: Psychological Causes and Antidotes
Why is the human brain so vulnerable to false beliefs and conspiracy theories despite evidence to the contrary? And what can be done to protect ourselves, our family, and society from our collective propensity to fall into these seductive traps?
Dr. Joe Pierre, health sciences clinical professor at UCSF and a specialist in delusions and delusion-like beliefs, will be returning to the Club to discuss these issues with us. His first talk on the topic, a few years ago, was a sold-out, extremely informative success, so we asked him to return for a deeper look into the personal and societal effects of mistrust, misinformation, and motivated reasoning. Equally important, he is going to outline how we can avoid the pitfalls of acting on false beliefs, both as individuals and as a society.
So if you've been puzzled by how "otherwise-intelligent" friends and relatives have fallen into the trap of a false belief, or if you're searching for a way to reach out to someone who has fallen for one, or if you're wondering how society can defend itself, join us for this event and discussion. We'll learn why "just the facts" doesn't usually work, and we'll learn how to view our ideological opponents with compassion while still vigorously defending society.
Come to the Club for a discussion with Dr. Pierre and your peers, the book signing, and maybe even dinner afterward at a nearby restaurant!
Joe Pierre, M.D., Health Sciences Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UCSF, is the author of "False: How Mistrust, Disinformation, and Motivated Reasoning Make Us Believe Things that Aren't True" (Oxford) and the "Psych Unseen" series in "Psychology Today."
Location: Commonwealth Club World Affairs, 110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105
Time: 5:00 p.m. doors open, 5:30 p.m. program, 6:30 p.m. discussion and book signing
$22 non-members; free for students (with valid ID)
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/2860208-0
