The lying psychologist who fooled the world

He lied to his students, his friends, and his family. He fabricated data in 57 separate studies. He publicised racist views as scientific fact. And for a decade, he got away with it. Today, I share how one of the world’s most popular behavioural scientists fooled the world.

[egx]

Just a reminder. Question everything and everyone. Including your own beliefs. Critical thinking is in short supply, unfortunately.

[mijajajaja]

Working in Academia is the most toxic thing I've ever experienced, so none of this is surprising

[charlotte]

What kind of psychopath would sit right next to a stranger when the farther away seat is empty??

[LifecRaft_Transform]

I thought of a tomato. 🍅 I’ve never successfully grown carrots.

[freedomworkers]

Diederik Stapel (1966) was a Dutch social psychologist who obtained his Ph.D. cum laude at the University of Amsterdam (in 1997 In 1992 I studied with him. We had to present our graduation studies in public. I remembered how his research data perfectly represented his expectation. I asked my fellow students how this was possible? Was Stapel a genius? Rest is history ....

[cp]

The fact that these “researchers” end up giving Ted Talks is not surprising 🙄

[ickster]

Its scary how influential many of these grifters are in shaping restrictive laws and regulations.

[steveburke]

Scientists like this are responsible for the public's distrust in science.

[bojcio]

They're the kind of juvenile theories a 12 year old would come up with.

[stephenbrookes]

I am completely unsurprised that people did not sit near or amongst the litter and trash.The reason is obvious.

[wape]

I studied psychology at one point, fully intending to join the field in some professional capacity.

It came as a total shock when I realized that there was no objective truth in the field—I could always find one or two studies to back up even the most ludicrous of conclusions!

[stanleyklein]

I am: 1. a social psychologist, 2. I teach at a business school and 3. I study power poses. Three strikes and you are out.

[groovetube]

“There is a sucker born every minute.” -PT Barnum

[heatherwoodley]

Its not the confirmation bias. Its the sunken cost fallacy in this example of the cult.

[stephaniegiles]

Or maybe people don’t want to sit in garbage.

[mrmegabuckssongs]

I thought of a tomato. Then I remembered tomato is a fruit, then I thought of lettuce 🥬

[tbell]

This is all too common. The lying and machinations in academia and those who are prone to sociopathy/ASPS and other mental health issues, (self delusion, hubris and arrogance, fraud, deceit, etc.) in the field of behavioral science is extremely high. Those that enter the field are problematic to begin with; some are unconsciously trying to harness their lack of a conscience and learn to control/manipulate others, a handful desire to understand their problematic histories and behaviors and others seek to avoid their problems by projecting onto/"diagnosing" others. Many of the worst, most messed up and manipulative people are in the field of behavioral health. Trust none of them!

[aloisraich]

Its not clear to me how anybody could believe this rubbish in the first place, fabricated or not.

[markmaloney]

I sit at my desk with a skeptical pose. Then I feel skeptical as a result…

[justjamie]

No one wants to sit next to a pile of trash regardless of whoever is near it. The claim itself sends all arm bells.