Psychologist debunks 8 myths of mass scale | Todd Rose

Psychologist Todd Rose debunks 8 myths so mainstream we all believe them.

Collective illusions — false assumptions about society that many people share — have existed for thousands of years in many different ways. Today, because of social media and modern technology, they have become even more common.

One example of a collective illusion is the commonly held belief that everyone wants fame, wealth, and power. That’s not true. Most of us want lives of purpose and meaning. But because of false assumptions, many of us spend our lives chasing things that won’t fulfill us.

Another example of a collective illusion is the pervasive idea that the U.S. is an irredeemably divided nation. Sure, Americans have plenty of disagreements. But fundamentally, they have more in common than they might think.

As former Harvard professor and bestselling author Todd Rose explains, the antidote to collective illusions is becoming a more authentic individual, as well as gaining a deeper understanding of how our innate drive to conform to social norms often works against that.

0:00 What is a “collective illusion”?
2:43 How myths invade private opinion
4:54 Myth: Other people can’t be trusted
8:32 Myth: Success is wealth, status, and power
11:12 Myth: Social media reveals what society thinks
13:56: Myth: Group consensus is vetted and factual
17:53: Myth: Elite jobs matter to us
21:11 Myth: America is on the verge of civil war
24:18 Myth: People want university degrees
26:57 Myth: Cultural norms exist to protect you

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Collective Illusions is a 9-part series brought to you by Stand Together: a community of changemakers tackling our biggest challenges

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About Todd Rose:
Todd Rose is the co-founder and president of Populace, a think tank committed to ensuring that all people have the opportunity to pursue fulfilling lives in a thriving society. Prior to Populace, he was a faculty member at Harvard University where he founded the Laboratory for the Science of Individuality and directed the Mind, Brain, and Education program. Todd is the best selling author of Collective Illusions, Dark Horse, and The End of Average. He lives in Burlington, Massachusetts.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read more of our stories on society’s collective illusions:
Is free will an illusion?
Are you superior to others? Or is it an illusion?
Penn Jillette: The year that shattered America’s illusions

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About Big Think | Smarter Faster™
► Big Think
The leading source of expert-driven, educational content. With thousands of videos, featuring experts ranging from Bill Clinton to Bill Nye, Big Think helps you get smarter, faster by exploring the big ideas and core skills that define knowledge in the 21st century.
► Big Think+

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Want more Big Think?

[TraversyMedia]

Amazing video. It’s very refreshing and made me feel less crazy because lately I feel like the world I am living in is some twisted dimension and not the one that I grew up in.

[phoenixpinkmyn]

I'd never heard the phrase "positive deviant". It perfectly captures my model for social change. When I worked with community groups, and activists, it seemed like just going out and telling people to change hardly made any difference at all. And, instead, just being that change, and being that model for people around you, that made a much stronger impact. I still believe that.

[danlightened]

A much needed video for social awareness. I'm a sceptic and I question everything. I find it really weird how easily people jump on a bandwagon.

[awake]

“Don’t carry that distortion over into the way you treat people in real life” - clearly demonstrated in a huge way during the last couple years.
This is excellent!

[hungrymusicwolf]

I was skeptical going into this video because I thought this was going to be another "the other side is delusional and now I can show my scientific TM* study to prove it.", but this was an honest to goodness sincere look at our society. Todd, it takes courage to speak up and call out the emperors clothes, and I applaud you for it.

Especially the part about dismantling the top down approach of distrusting people and controlling their choices, and demanded that our institutions treat us with trust.

[nobody]

This is food for thought for everyone regardless of their current beliefs and opinions. I especially like that it doesn’t seek to divide but bring people together - very refreshing.

[Firesprink]

It's the story of the Emperor's New Clothes. Everybody agreed on how great the clothes were, even though they all privately knew it was nonsense. They just didn't want to be the only one to speak out about it. I see a million examples of similar situations in today's news and social media. It's not really that we don't know enough, it's more a problem that so much of what we DO know is wrong.

[jaigurudevam]

Everybody NEEDS to watch this video, cause I feel there´s so much insecurity and lack of meaning on my friends' lifes, sometimes mine, in order to please the expectation of others, but they don't care, or definitely shouldn't. So this really is an incentive to keep validating feelings and authentic opinions, and to fight for a less harsh world.

[jivekiwi]

I just feel a little more happier knowing that people are watching videos like this, with a positive message.. Simple and true.

[dRudE-dnb]

This video practically described my personal journey in life while being unaware I was autistic, to figuring it out, and having an overwhelming liberating experience. It makes me wonder just how many others are trapped unaware and how much it would help humanity to raise awareness regarding this.

[ilovehistoryn.a.h]

In my family, we've started questioning everything and supporting each other in our questioning: norms, ways of being, standards, social roles, expectations - that we put on ourselves and others -, bell curves, opinions, etc. It has been such a journey for us to unpack things and discover our authenticity at the core. Our relationship flourished in so many different ways. The constant challenge to old paradigms is the root of transformation. Society is made by individuals, and the key to change society is at the hands of each one of us, individually. Let's change society by changing ourselves first. 🌏🌍🙏

[esmevancampen]

this is so huge!! i convinced myself at 18 to go into a high paying stable job bc i was convinced that would make me the best version of myself rather than being an artist. i was so convinced i was right i would argue my way around everything and now i have a degree that does nothing for me. i have these conversations all the time with my 13 y/o brother about what he thinks he should want v what he actually wants and what he actually enjoys doing v what he thinks he should do

[angie_ax]

Grazie!
This video is a powerful tool for the mind.

[Mr.Nichan]

One realization I've recently had about trustworthiness is that it probably depends a lot on the pressures involved. E.g., when one answer results in you losing your job and the other doesn't, I'd bet most people are a lot less likely to be honest than in a situation where there's no fear involved, like when you just have a chance to get a gift you weren't expecting anyway. I noticed this sort of effect in my own thinking and behavior, at least to some extent.

[sarah-jessicabergeron]

I loved the message the video brings in saying that we need to leave room for differences in our conversations. "Agree to disagree". Sharing our views of the world should be about more than just reaching consensus, convincing others of our righteousness, or getting approval of our values. Sometimes, a conversation should be that: a place where ideas can be bounced off of one another, with the simple objective of seeking some common ground and creating innovative avenues starting off with our disagreements. Revealing who we are, our vision of life, and what we want begins with authenticity and ends with open-mindedness.

[gilejoksimovic]

“There is no God, but don’t tell that to my servant, lest he murder me at night.” ― Voltaire on Collective illusions

[luisrobles]

Every social media platform and tv and radio should interrupt programming and play this.

[wedgewizard]

This video is like a breath of fresh air. For some time I have believed that there is vocal minority that lies to the majority and it silences most people because they think everyone else thinks something different. Not often do I hear that belief echoed or supported. The idea that others are out there thinking this way makes me feel a lot better. I hope these ideas spread. Great job! :D

[hungrymusicwolf]

This was a video that desperately needed to be made, and I thank you guys for doing it.

[joelchess]

I'm so happy to see that this is actually being studied, talked about and shared. I myself have been trying to show my peers this for a while now but it's hard not knowing how to go about it. Now I can just share this video and hope they can understand. Thanks so much