Do You Really Know What You Think You Do?

We are generally pretty confident when it comes to things that we know really well. But what if your brain is lying to you... tricking you into thinking you know everything, but you really know nothing?

Hosted by: Hank Green
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[maxsalmon]

Ah yes, Dunning-Kruger. I know all about that. The scientists, Faye and Freddy, determined all sorts of important things which I am an expert in.

[ey]

The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.

[Master_Therion]

I thought "over-claiming" was a type of theft that can happen at the airport baggage claim area.

[hellcat]

It's so sad to know this large of a percentage of people will lie like this. They make themselves look even more stupid.

A great man once said "To truly know anything, one must first realize they know nothing at all." Admitting you don't know is the best chance you have to learn, despite what it may make people think of you.

[GizGaz]

I pretty much never comment on this channel, I still very much enjoy watching SciShow! This particular webcast is the exception. A very interesting topic. I do my best to verify topics that I come across, things I'm interested in, not always an easy thing to do. I admit... I think of myself as a fount of useless knowledge. I do try to verify the things that I talk about with people I know, if I have no clue, I will say so, but if its something I think I know about, then you'll have a hard time shutting me up. Anyway, thanks for this one (webcast). It just so happens this was a part of the topic of discussion today at my local pub. Thanks SciShow, Hank, you're awesome! Thank You!

[tomkemp]

Is it just me or do the 4 white squares around Hank's shirt buttons look brighter than the other white squares on his shirt?

[duanethorup]

Good presentation Hank, thank you.

This just reinforces the reality that we live in a culture of liars. I deal with customer service in my line of work and the one thing that is drilled into my head is that you never tell a customer:"I don't know" which I usually follow up with:"but I know someone who does, I will ask them, and then we can get the problem solved." I am wierd(wired) like that. I like to be honest with people instead of feeding them a line of BS, and some false image of me being a know it all. I like to be told the truth even if the truth is uncomfortable. This is one big problem with customers, clients, patients, etc... many of them subconsciously or habitually expect to be lied to about a problem, then when someone comes along and pops their bubble they get all mad about it instead of saying "how refreshing, someone who is trying to be up front and honest with me."

[nehapande]

The heart of any scientific inquiry is "I don't know". Loved the way it was put :) Thanks Hank Green for all the excellent episodes :)

[nlald]

I think this is one of my favourite videos you all have done.
You're killing it! Keep up the great work!

[rtkt]

I dont know many things, thats why i keep coming at SciShow! Thanks everyone engaged at this channel!

[Axioanarchist]

I am a font of useless trivia, with specialties in fantasy and soft sci-fi, JRPGs, D&D, and Pokemon. If I ever claim to be an expert in anything else, feel free to contest it. =)

[carboxysome]

People think that they're special snowflakes, and will always adopt anything that inflates their egos, including ideologies that say they'll live after death eternaly.

[Slythe]

One of the best videos SciShow has done, and very timely...

[markmathews]

This is very interesting as im an epistemologist. One of the hardest things for me is to be unbiased. When a touchy topic comes up like global warming or vaccines, like every one i experience the initial hot cognition process, and now i can actually feel parts of my brain straining at different times. When these touchy topics come up, i feel that initial feeling, then acknowledge the feeling and try to counter it. The easiest way i have found is find grey areas like conspiracies or history. This way i can use a combination of evidence and psudeo-evidence to both prove and disprove something. This breaks down a bias barrier i have within myself and it becomes easier to look at things objectively. I will admit I am far from knowing everything I want to, mostly because i spend so long making sure every understanding isn't tainted with bias from cognitive strain due to my current beliefs, and i try to overcome hot cognition in order to also be unbiased so the information isn't tainted before i even get a chance to look at it. I just love the psychology of people. For example, if a sex addict lacked empathy, would that sex addict become a rapist. Is that the difference between the chemistry in these 2 brains, one has empathy sections firing up and the other doesn't Instead of people trying to know everything, they should stuck their heads into academic books. I know a lot of things but i would never say im qualified. When i claim somethinbg, i reference the source, and if the source didn't get it right, or needed to be corrected, then i am open to saying, whoops i had it wrong, here's the evidence, why can't others?

[phantasm]

Hi there, SciShow! I would love for people to learn about the terrifying and sudden nature of cerebral aneurysms! I had one rupture at 19 and I think it would make for an interesting video topic!

[davidekdal]

This video came very in handy for a discission I just had. I felt extremely sure about everything I said and I remain sure even after watching this video. Rather than finding flaws in my own arguments I search for instances when my "opponent" finds the critical flaws and tells me what I was wrong about. I would consider myself open to admit that I may lack some important parts in my reasoning patterns but I find my friends to often agree with what I say because I am good at sounding convincing, not just because the things I say but because I strive to sound confident and self-aware witch in turn makes the opponent look up to your arguments. I'm basically narrowing the number of possibilities there are to critisize my arguments so that there is a chance for me to learn from my mistakes. Maybe I would be better of practising on my own instead of just waiting for other people to find my flaws.

[Aziraphale]

This is something I have been trying to drill into my kids head. That not only is it okay to be wrong, but as a kid you are going to be wrong a LOT, and it's not your fault for lacking knowledge. However you have to be able to recognize when you do have that deficiency, and to either seek out the knowledge, or defer to those who have it.

[TheAmoddicon]

Am I the only one who immediately thought of Hank's song, "I know"?

[DustinRodriguez_]

I think it also helps to embrace being wrong. Rejoice in it. Think about it... when you learn that you are wrong about something, that means you never have to be wrong about that thing ever again. For the rest of your entire life (if you can remember it of course). That's awesome! So many people are defensive about their past, not wanting to admit to themselves (I think that's a way bigger issue for most people than admitting to others or looking stupid) that they have held wrong beliefs and possibly even acted on them for so long. But you can't change your past. You can change your future, and if you look forward to being better informed you might seek to falsify your own beliefs rather than to verify them, which is what everyone should be doing.

[LeeC_]

This is great! Absolutely hilarious I was laughing entire time because including myself, everyone I know has done this to the extreme at one point or another.