Understanding the Science Behind Human Stupidity with Gordon Pennycook

2025-12-23

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Why do smart people fall for bad information? Why does bullshit spread faster than truth? And what can we really do to protect ourselves from misinformation in a chaotic media landscape? Alita Guillen sits down with Dr. Gordon Pennycook, Associate Professor of Psychology at Cornell University and a leading researcher on human reasoning, intuition, misinformation, and what he famously calls “The Science of Human Stupidity.” His work reveals why our brains default to shortcuts, how social media exploits those habits, and—most impor...

Why do smart people fall for bad information? Why does bullshit spread faster than truth? And what can we really do to protect ourselves from misinformation in a chaotic media landscape?

Alita Guillen sits down with Dr. Gordon Pennycook, Associate Professor of Psychology at Cornell University and a leading researcher on human reasoning, intuition, misinformation, and what he famously calls “The Science of Human Stupidity.” His work reveals why our brains default to shortcuts, how social media exploits those habits, and—most importantly—how simple moments of reflection can dramatically improve our judgment.

Together, they explore why people believe things that aren’t true, how overconfidence fuels polarization, why bullshit thrives when accuracy isn’t top of mind, and the surprisingly hopeful research showing that people can change their minds when given the right tools.

This conversation is an antidote to noisy information, a guide to clearer thinking, and a refreshing reminder that better reasoning is a skill anyone can learn.

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