FHC #109: Dan Ariely on irrationality and misbelief in medicine

Dan Ariely is an expert in irrational behavior. He has extensively researched it, mulled it over and, more often than not, produced brilliant insights into what it means to be a human. His studies and observations have resulted in three New York Times bestsellers on human psychology.

During the Coronavirus pandemic, he was attacked for his efforts to save lives through vaccination and mandatory masking. His newest book, “Misbelief: What Makes Rational People Believe Irrational Things,” recalls his travails during Covid-19 era and the blowback he received as the “chief consciousness engineer” of the “covid-19 fraud” (in the words of his skeptics).

In this interview, Ariely discusses the highlights of his decades-long research into psychology and behavioral economics and their applications toward U.S. medicine with Fixing Healthcare cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr.

In this episode, Ariely discusses:

  • Irrationality and “anchoring,” the use of prior decisions to make future ones
  • The pitfalls confronting the consumers and producers of healthcare
  • Why, in health, we need to celebrate the idea of “nothing bad happens”
  • His work helping the Israeli government with its Covid-19 strategy
  • How stress leads to a misbelief in doctors, the government, etc.
  • Whether misbelief can be a positive for patients
  • Much, much more

Ariely is an is a leading behavioral economist, author, entrepreneur and the James B. Duke Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University.

Tune in for the full interview and join the conversation on social media.

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Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.