Truth Default Theory

We are enclined to trust people and this is a good thing

Lie detection has fascinated me for many years, I researched body language and thought about taking Dr Ekman’s course on how to read micro expressions. I already touched upon the topic in Lie to me post.

During the summer, while reading Malcom Gladwell’s essay Talking to strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don't Know, I realized that all those years I had been focused on how to spot a liar looking at their face and behavior, but I had never questioned my own blind spots which would explain why I fell in their trap. This book was a revelation.

The foundation of Malcom Gladwell work in this book is based on Timothy Levine’s Default to Truth Theory

The basic idea of Truth Default Theory (TDT) is that when we communicate with other people, we not only tend to believe them, but the thought that maybe we shouldn’t does not even come to mind. This is a good thing for two reasons. First, and most important, the truth-default is needed for communication to function. Second, most people are mostly honest most of the time. But, the truth-default makes us vulnerable to deception. Source Timothy Levine’s website

Many years ago, I entrusted the wrong person and it turned out to be a very painful experience. I spent years blaming myself and came to the conclusion that at least I learned the lesson (the hard way).

Truth Default Theory shed a new light on this episode. Back in those days, I didn’t question the person’s honest posture because the vast majority of people I have been interacting with were honest per nature.

The thing is that it’s too energy and time consuming and clearly not worthwile to doubt every single person behavior and switch to “Vilain Default Theory” as opposite to TDT. Can you imagine reflecting on every interaction challenging the intention of the other person ? No way.

Malcom Gladwell explains that TDT from an evolutionary standpoint was the only valid theory. This gives a different explanation why Bernie Maddoff global pyramid scheme works. The investors trusted Bernie Maddoff because people are to be trusted by default not because Bernie Maddoff was a super liar or because his clients were super naive.

I recently watched Malcom Gladwell keynote Talking to Strangers - What We Should Know About the People We Don't Know refering to an example from the book I particularly like. This story is about the US and Cuban spy agents network during cold war. Check it below and I highly recommand to get the book, it’s really insightful (and worth making further references).

If you are not familiar with Malcom Gladwell, check his Ted Talks and read previous books, they are all science based, well documented and also funny at times.

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Formamind is a regular newsletter published twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays. It focuses on self development, innovation, creativity, team collaboration, leadership and my personal journey towards understanding how our brain works.

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