We don’t treat all of our beliefs the same. 

The research shows that when a strong-yet-erroneous, belief is challenged, yes, you might experience some temporary weakening of your convictions, some softening of your certainty, but most people rebound from that and not only reassert their original belief at its original strength, but go beyond that and dig in their heels, deepening their resolve over the long run.

Psychologists call this the backfire effect, and this episode is the first of three shows exploring this well-documented and much-studied psychological phenomenon, one that you’ve likely encountered quite a bit lately.

In this episode, we explore its neurological underpinning as two neuroscientists at the University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute explain how their latest research sheds new light on how the brain reacts when its deepest beliefs are challenged.

- Show notes at: www.youarenotsosmart.com
- Become a patron at: www.patreon.com/youarenotsosmart

SPONSORS

• The Great Courses: www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/smart
• Casper Mattresses: www.casper.com/sosmart | Offer Code = sosmart

093 - The Backfire Effect - Part One

INSTANT LOVE
[Unreleased 2004 demo]

Lyrics: Joanna Dong
Music: Don Shiau

Just because we took a long time getting there
Doesn't make it any better (or worse)
Just because there are so many silences
Doesn't make it less meaningful than so many words

Courtships are too long and too much action
Romance is a far cry from satisfaction
Dinners and dates, flowers and fate
Give me a break; give me some instant love

Give me some instant love
Give me some instant love
Give me some instant love
Give me some instant love

Just because 'forever' sounds so good
Doesn't mean you can be deaf to reality
Just because 'loneliness' sounds so bad
Doesn't mean that anyone can keep me company

I'm so sick of pursuing permanence
I've learnt that there is beauty in transience
That perfect mate, well he can wait
Give me a break; give me some instant love

Give me some instant love
Give me some instant love
Give me some instant love
Give me some instant love

Lola (Joanna Dong and Don Shiau) - Instant Love

Recorded, mixed and mastered at That Locked Door studio.

Step Into Christmas (Elton John cover)

First demo of the year; written today (3rd Jan,2019).

It's a celebration; demo.

This song helps remind myself of the meaning of Good Friday.

Jesus 070419MP3

Ascend

City 65  (Aug 2019)

Mixtape of classic songs from the pioneering days of the Singapore Indie music scene (mid-80's to late 1990s). First debuted at Big On BigO event held at Post Museum in September 2010.

Big On BigO

"American Hearts" is from Air Supply's 1980 album "Lost In Love".

They were married in September back in 1969
They traveled east to India to find some peace of mind
They stood for love and freedom
They were children of their time, wo wo

They lived in a world that was cold and uncaring
They swore they would change it with love and sharing
They never lived like their parents had done
Their innocence shone like the sun

(Chorus)
American hearts, so filled with emotion
American hearts, so easily broken

Now they've got a family and a cottage in the hills
He's always working late to pay the mortgage and the bills
And she has trouble sleeping so the doctor gives her pills, wo wo

Who are these strangers who used to be lovers?
Now they've got nothing to say to each other
Too far apart to discuss their mistakes
They filed for divorce and it breaks their

(Chorus)
Now that it's over, they each go on living
Never forgetting but somehow forgiving
They'll care for their children
Protect them with pride
And that's how the dream will survive in
(Repeat Chorus)

American Hearts (Air Supply cover)

ELECTRONIC MAIL
(©Don Shiau 2003)

Every morning, I type my emails
Sending them into cyberspace
Information, conversation
Anytime, anyplace

Every hour, I get new emails
Some important, some trivial
I reply them without delay
There are people waiting for me
There's so much to do

Sending, receiving, opening, closing
Checking, attaching, forwarding, composing
Reading, reading, reading, deleting
Reading, reading, reading, deleting
Reading, reading, reading, deleting
Typingtypingtypingtypingtyping...

Every evening, I check my emails
To find out what else I need to do
Life with email is so convenient
Won't you be my...recipient?

American Hearts (Air Supply cover)

superpaddymac

Related tracks