You Are Not So Smart audiobook cover - Why Your Memory Is Mostly Fiction, Why You Have Too Many Friends on Facebook, and 46 Other Ways You’re Deluding Yourself

You Are Not So Smart

Why Your Memory Is Mostly Fiction, Why You Have Too Many Friends on Facebook, and 46 Other Ways You’re Deluding Yourself

David McRaney

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Categories:
Psychology

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You Are Not So Smart
Illusion of Rationality+
Processing Reality & Choices+
Defending Beliefs & Ego+
Hidden Mind & Egocentrism+
Social Dynamics & Conformity+
Actionable Advice+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 9
Why do humans tend to see patterns in random occurrences and coincidences?
  • A. It is a modern coping mechanism to deal with the overwhelming amount of data in the digital age.
  • B. Our brains possess a psychological defect that makes us unable to process true randomness.
  • C. The ability to recognize patterns was an evolutionary trait essential for early humans to survive.
  • D. Society conditions us from a young age to seek out numerical order and sequences.
Question 2 of 9
In the department store study, subjects were asked to rate the quality of identical nylon stockings. What did the results reveal about human decision-making?
  • A. We are easily manipulated by subtle differences in product packaging and branding.
  • B. We unconsciously favor the item placed on the right but will fabricate a rational reason, like texture, to explain our choice.
  • C. We are highly aware of our psychological biases but choose to ignore them to avoid embarrassment.
  • D. We tend to follow the choices made by the majority of other shoppers to conform to social norms.
Question 3 of 9
How did the study about the fictional character Jane demonstrate confirmation bias in human memory?
  • A. Subjects remembered all details about Jane equally well but drew wildly different conclusions about her personality.
  • B. Subjects completely fabricated new events in Jane's life to justify the career path they were asked to evaluate her for.
  • C. Subjects recalled only the parts of Jane's story that confirmed the specific job suitability they were asked about, forgetting contradictory traits.
  • D. Subjects relied entirely on their own professional backgrounds to judge Jane, ignoring the provided story entirely.
Question 4 of 9
What is the underlying purpose of 'self-handicapping,' as shown when test subjects chose to take a performance-inhibiting drug?
  • A. To lower the expectations of peers so that any success feels like a much larger accomplishment.
  • B. To create conditions for future failure ahead of time, ensuring that the failure can be blamed on external factors rather than a lack of ability.
  • C. To challenge themselves to overcome additional obstacles, thereby building greater self-confidence.
  • D. To mask their true intelligence so they appear more socially relatable and popular.
Question 5 of 9
What was the main takeaway from the study where participants recalled a 'sinful' act and were then given the opportunity to wash their hands?
  • A. The physical act of washing hands unconsciously cleansed participants of their guilt, making them less likely to offer help to others afterward.
  • B. Participants who washed their hands felt refreshed and energized, resulting in a higher willingness to volunteer for subsequent studies.
  • C. Hand-washing triggered a fear of germs, making participants want to leave the study area as quickly as possible without volunteering.
  • D. The participants became highly conscious of their moral failings and volunteered at a much higher rate to make up for their past sins.
Question 6 of 9
When analyzing our own skills and comparing ourselves to others, what common egocentric delusion do we experience?
  • A. We assume that our lives are incredibly mundane and believe that everyone else lives a more exciting life.
  • B. We correctly evaluate our abilities but fail to communicate them effectively to others.
  • C. We assume that most people share our exact skill sets and viewpoints, viewing everyone as a reflection of ourselves.
  • D. We heavily overestimate how special and skilled we are, viewing our daily lives as much more significant than those of others.
Question 7 of 9
Why are you more likely to receive help for a broken-down car on a quiet country road than on a busy city street?
  • A. People in rural environments are statistically more empathetic and knowledgeable about car repairs than urban dwellers.
  • B. The presence of multiple witnesses in a city diminishes the personal responsibility any single person feels to stop and help.
  • C. On a busy street, drivers are physically unable to safely pull over due to high traffic speeds.
  • D. People on a country road assume the broken-down driver is a local neighbor they might personally know.
Question 8 of 9
What troubling truth about human conformity was demonstrated by Stanley Milgram's electric shock experiment?
  • A. People will naturally form a group consensus when unsure of how to proceed in scientific settings.
  • B. The vast majority of people refuse to harm others, even when threatened with severe punishments.
  • C. We are highly susceptible to the influence of authority figures, often conforming to their orders even if it means causing severe harm.
  • D. Humans possess a natural sadistic tendency that only emerges when given anonymous control over others.
Question 9 of 9
According to the book's actionable advice, what is the best strategy if you urgently need help in a crowded public place?
  • A. Yell loudly to the general crowd so that as many people as possible hear your distress.
  • B. Point directly at one specific person in the crowd and ask them for help.
  • C. Remain calm and silent until someone naturally notices you, to avoid causing a wider panic.
  • D. Search for an official authority figure, like a police officer, because civilians will rarely intervene.

You Are Not So Smart — Full Chapter Overview

You Are Not So Smart Summary & Overview

You Are Not So Smart (2011) explores the many different ways we have of deluding ourselves. By delving into a wide range of psychological research, the author challenges the notion that we are logical, rational beings who see the world as it really is and makes a case that we mislead ourselves every single day, for better and for worse.

Who Should Listen to You Are Not So Smart?

  • Anyone who believes that they’re quite rational in their thinking and behavior
  • Anyone interested in how we delude ourselves every day

About the Author: David McRaney

David McRaney is a journalist, “psychology nerd,” and the author of the popular blog YouAreNotSoSmart.com, which served as the basis for this book. He has written for several newspapers including The Lamar Times and The Huffington Post, and was named one of the top ten college journalists in the nation in 2006.

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