#48 If truth be told

If Truth be Told

Which of the following statements are true?

1. Bats are blind.

2. We lose most of our body heat through our heads.

3. Eating sugar makes kids hyperactive.

4. MSG can make people sick.

5. We only use 10% of our brains.

It turns out (as the hyperlinks explain) . . . none are true.

If you’re like me, you probably believed at least some of these myths.  But why?

As Professor Tali Sharot describes in this podcast about the Illusory Truth Effect, in the above cases, rumors were repeated often.  When we hear something frequently, we are more likely to believe it’s true, because we spend less time processing the information.  Sharot explains, “The more familiar it is, the ‘truthier’ it is.  We don’t stop to think about it.”

So, what can we do? When you feel suspicious, do some research, and trust only the most reputable, expert sources.