Third, the members of the group must share a common goal – whether that be solving a puzzle, making a great Wikipedia page, or figuring out how to get a plane in the air and keep it there. If each member is only defending their own position, or trying to get one ­up on everyone else, then weaker arguments won’t get eliminated and the group won’t... See more

How did the Wrights get hot without getting mad? Ivonette Wright Miller, a niece of the brothers, identified a vital ingredient, when she noted that the brothers were adept at ‘arguing and listening ’. The tougher that Wilbur and Orville fought, the more intently they listened. Good listening can be a function of close and respectful personal... See more

It’s pointless having a group of smart people around a table if all they do is nod along with each other

Pursuing a strongly held conviction, even when it’s wrong , can still be productive at the group level. It’s an elegant paradox: in order for a group to reach rational conclusions, at least some of its individual members should argue a little irrationally. When everyone feels compelled to generate arguments and knock down competing arguments, the... See more

Sperber and Mercier argue that, looked at through the interactionist lens, confirmation bias is actually a feature, not a bug of human cognition. It maximises the contribution that each individual makes to a group, by motivating them to generate new information and new arguments. Think about what it’s like when someone contradicts you. You feel... See more