Scientific Definition
We dismiss the ideas and merits of people we dislike.
Plain-English Definition
We dismiss the ideas and merits of people we dislike.
Feynman Explanation
The messenger doesn't change the message — but we let it.
Core Principle
We dismiss the ideas and merits of people we dislike.
Mechanisms
Pending editorial review.
We dismiss the ideas and merits of people we dislike.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Information from disliked people is systematically devalued.
Inputs (Triggers)
Pending editorial review.
Outputs (Behaviors)
Pending editorial review.
Behavioral Signature
The messenger doesn't change the message — but we let it.
Examples
- A correct objection ignored because the source is disliked.
- Information from disliked people is systematically devalued.
Pending editorial review.
Famous Experiments
Pending editorial review.
Design Principles
- Evaluate ideas on a separate axis from their source.
Measurement Approaches
Pending editorial review.
Evidence
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
The Perverse Incentive Lens™
How this behavior is exploited — and how to redesign around it.
- Evaluate ideas on a separate axis from their source.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Interactive Mini Network
Click any neighbor to re-center the graph and follow the threads of connection.
Knowledge Graph Neighbors
Auto-linked to the rest of the Human Behavior Taxonomy by family, domain, dimension, and shared keywords.
We measure ourselves against peers, not against our past selves.
A group decides on a course of action that nobody actually wants, because everyone assumes others prefer it.
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
We attribute our own actions to situations but others' actions to their character.
We favor people who are similar to us or who like us.
Sacrificing for others without expecting a personal reward.
Masking the sponsors of a message to make it appear grassroots.
Disagreement grows more extreme as the parties think more about the issue.
Systematic errors in explaining the causes of behavior — yours or others'.
We accept vague, general statements as personally meaningful.
Adding the word 'because' (with any reason) increases compliance dramatically.
Behaviors spread through groups via observation and imitation.