[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-detail-135544-en":3,"doc-seo-135544-105":30,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":92},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",{"doc_id":7,"user_id":8,"nickname":9,"user_avatar":10,"doc_module":4,"category_id":11,"category_name":12,"doc_title":13,"doc_description":14,"doc_content":15,"file_id":16,"file_url":17,"file_type":18,"file_size":19,"view_count":11,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":20,"is_downloadable":20,"audit_status":20,"page_count":21,"language":22,"language_code":23,"site_id":24,"html_lang":23,"table_of_contents":25,"faqs":26,"seo_title":27,"seo_description":14,"update_tm":28,"read_time":29},135544,1374391974585,"Genevieve","https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_276721f389ce27ea32af1340a28f341c",8,"Research & Report","Understanding Human Stupidity in a Post-truth Area","Explores human stupidity as a temporary or persistent failure to navigate reasoning, planning, problem solving, abstract thinking, complex ideas, and learning from experience. Argues that irrationality and cognitive biases can overpower rationality, with stupidity potentially spreading and becoming collectively reinforced in a post-truth era shaped by social media. Discusses pseudo-stupidity in leaders and proposes management through education, institutional safeguards, satire, and paradoxical psychology.","Understanding Human Stupidity in a Post-truth Area  \nManfred F. R. Kets de Vries  \nINSEAD, [manfred.ketsdevries@insead.edu](manfred.ketsdevries@insead.edu)  \nMost people, at one time or another, act stupidly. There are any number of terms used to describe stupid behavior: stupidity, dumbness, silliness, obtuseness, imbecility, foolishness, folly, and idiocy, to name just a few. This article starts by describing some of the characteristics of stupidity and then posits the idea that people who behave stupidly seem to be—temporarily or otherwise—unable to properly navigate the domains of reasoning, planning, problem solving, abstract thinking, complex ideas, and learning from experience. Aside from stupidity being, at times, downright dangerous, it can come with the additional difficulty of being somewhat contagious.  \nThat these people often appear to be stubborn and self-possessed also suggests a narcissistic aspect to some instances of stupid behavior, and this article later raises the question as to whether some individuals are really stupid or whether some of them adopt a pseudo-stupidly for their own ends.  \nAdopting an evolutionary perspective, the article suggests that, in people’s attempts to make sense of the world, irrationality often overrules rationality. For example, in their pursuit of sense making, people may feel compelled to hold onto stupid beliefs or subscribe to bizarre ideas in a bid to ward off feelings of anxiety about the unknown. In this context, it is suggested that human beings, fearful as they can be, are easily manipulated by people in leadership positions. In fact, the world is full of Pied Pipers trying to lead them astray.  \nIn the context of stupidity, the conundrum of limited rationality is also explored. It is noted and illustrated through various examples that people’s cognitive biases often enhance stupid decisions. The propositions of cognitive psychologists and findings derived from neuroscience are touched upon as highly relevant here.  \nThis article observes that the present age resembles a post-truth era, one in which, thanks to the machinations of social media, stupidity appears to be celebrated. Elaborating on this observation, it considers the influence that supposedly stupid people exert over large groups, all too easily setting the stage for collective stupidity. As will be shown, people who are able to harness the power of other people’s stupidity can have an enormous impact. Here the pseudo-stupidity first discussed, must be taken seriously, asking how far these supposedly stupid leaders deliberately incite their followers towards stupidity.  \nIn its conclusion, this article suggests a number of means by which to manage stupidity, even when it appears tobe an insurmountable task. It cautions that no amount of persuasion is able to change the minds of some stupid people, particularly when they are unaware of their idiocy. Despite the challenge this poses, the article emphasizes that efforts do still need to be made to counteract stupidity. Education measures can help stupid people to question their logic with the hope that self-knowledge may be a useful antidote. In addition , the article points out that, from a societal perspective, a major countervailing power against stupidity is the presence of institutional safeguards. Here satire is proposed as just one form of intervention, as well as the use of paradoxical psychology. We can all be stupid, but can we be so safely?  \nKeywords: Stupidity; Pseudo-stupidity; Foolishness; Contagion; Stubbornness; Narcissism; Evolutionary Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Cognitive Bias; Neuroscience; Group Dynamics; Leadership; Satire; Paradoxical Intervention; Education; Self-knowledge  \nElectronic copy available at: [https://ssrn.com/abstract=4556964](https://ssrn.com/abstract=4556964)  \nWe are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.  \n—Benjamin Franklin  \nThe world is so full of simpletons and madmen, that one need not see","cbCaioD9t8mvFWqB","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaioD9t8mvFWqB","pdf",552692,1,28,"English","en",105,"# Introduction to Stupidity and Its Characteristics\n## Stupidity as Contagious and Possibly Narcissistic\n## Evolutionary Perspective on Irrationality and Belief\n## Limited Rationality and Cognitive Biases\n## Stupidity in a Post-truth Era and Group Effects\n## Managing Stupidity Through Education and Safeguards","[{\"question\":\"How does the article define “stupidity” in human behavior?\",\"answer\":\"It describes stupidity as an inability—temporarily or otherwise—to properly navigate reasoning, planning, problem solving, abstract thinking, complex ideas, and learning from experience.\"},{\"question\":\"Why does the article connect stupidity with a post-truth era?\",\"answer\":\"It argues that social media mechanisms can celebrate stupidity, enabling “pseudo-stupid” influence over large groups and setting the stage for collective stupidity.\"},{\"question\":\"What approaches does the article propose to manage or counter stupidity?\",\"answer\":\"It emphasizes efforts despite the difficulty of changing minds of some unaware individuals, suggesting education to prompt self-questioning, institutional safeguards, and interventions such as satire and paradoxical psychology.\"}]","Understanding Human Stupidity in a Post-truth Area | 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does the article define “stupidity” in human behavior?","Question",{"text":76,"@type":77},"It describes stupidity as an inability—temporarily or otherwise—to properly navigate reasoning, planning, problem solving, abstract thinking, complex ideas, and learning from experience.","Answer",{"name":79,"@type":74,"acceptedAnswer":80},"Why does the article connect stupidity with a post-truth era?",{"text":81,"@type":77},"It argues that social media mechanisms can celebrate stupidity, enabling “pseudo-stupid” influence over large groups and setting the stage for collective stupidity.",{"name":83,"@type":74,"acceptedAnswer":84},"What approaches does the article propose to manage or counter stupidity?",{"text":85,"@type":77},"It emphasizes efforts despite the difficulty of changing minds of some unaware individuals, suggesting education to prompt self-questioning, institutional safeguards, and interventions such as satire and paradoxical 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