‘Preys on exactly the weaknesses of the human mind’
Donald Trump has the instinctive ability to prey on people’s weaknesses says author Michael Lewis who just wrote a book on cognitive psychologists.
…Lewis, who has just published a new book about cognitive psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky called The Undoing Project, has some ideas [about Trump].
“Almost instinctively, he preys on exactly on the weaknesses of the human mind that they identified,” Lewis says. “The simple one is ‘anchoring.’ Amos and Danny did these studies where they’d give their lab subjects a ‘Wheel of Fortune’ with the numbers 1 to 100 on it, and have them spin the wheel. And then after they’ve spun the wheel and got a number, ask them what percentage of countries in the United Nations come from Africa? And a people who had spun a high number, like 90, would guess a higher number of percentage of countries from Africa in the United Nations.”
In other words, the study shows that people are can be prone to being misled by a simple cognitive association to believe something is much larger than it actually is.
As an example, consider the way Trump has convinced his followers that “voter fraud” is a massive problem simply by claiming that “millions” of people had voted illegally for Hillary Clinton. While there is no evidence of any widespread voter fraud in the U.S., Trump can make it seem like a gigantic problem simply through confident, unflinching assertion that it is.
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11 responses to ‘Preys on exactly the weaknesses of the human mind’
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anothertoothpick December 28th, 2016 at 10:56
The fatal Attraction to pumpkin head.
. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fafce12d82a5ef7d5abcd5b0cf75e882d11fa30aab395c1254123e311ed24b3d.jpg
whatthe46 December 28th, 2016 at 11:25
i would say that trees, bill, redeye, should be embarrassed by the fact that they are being called “sheep” and weak minded, but, the truth of the matter is, you have to have cognitive thinking to begin with to actually be aware you’re being used, and that ain’t happening with those 3.
april calendar 2018 March 24th, 2018 at 13:58
The Undoing Project, has some ideas [about Trump].
oldfart December 28th, 2016 at 11:06
Like this maybe ?… https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7102381c0bb63b4f1379f5fff116fb48d33cca4fbcfbd7b4b1216507766bb01a.jpg
whatthe46 December 28th, 2016 at 11:23
absolutely. wait, is that trees? the one on the left and redeye on the right. well, would you look at that. yep, dumb ass sheep.
Buford2k11 December 28th, 2016 at 12:03
But Sheep slayer trump hasn’t met Bubba…
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d619c732c8abc3f8c22e68ea01d53bf4929814bc73fb5ce4c61df290d864577b.jpg
mea_mark December 28th, 2016 at 12:48
He doesn’t just prey on it, he creates it so he can prey on it. He divides people, creates fears, then distracts from the truth and finally bullies people around with his rhetoric and power to get his way. He really is a threat to our national security. These things may work in the public sector on people that aren’t aware of what is going on but it does not work in the world of international relations. Foreign governments aren’t easily swayed by the bs. He will create fears in foreign governments divide them and try and bully them. The chances of world war occurring from this kind of strategy are not good for humanity or our nation. Foreign governments will not tolerate him or his strategies. There will be pushback, probably more than we can handle.
whatthe46 December 28th, 2016 at 13:07
you better believe it. and that’s why this is so frightening. they will take tRump literally because he’s so damn unpredictable.
fahvel December 28th, 2016 at 13:11
no, he is absolutely predictable – there’s the fear – his/your/worlds enemies can read the dim bulb like a beacon while the dullards who stuck the usa with him think they bask in a faux glow from it.
whatthe46 December 28th, 2016 at 13:56
predictably dangerous yes. unpredictable in a since that you don’t know where he’s going to go next, and that’s dangerous. no one is going to wait around for this crazy ass bastard to do something. they will make the first move.
bpollen December 28th, 2016 at 15:41
It’s a skill he shares with any good con-man.