Why Smart People Hold Stupid Beliefs
In psychology there are at least two biases that drive this pattern. One is confirmation bias:23 seeing what we expect to see. The other is desirability bias:24 seeing what we want to see. These biases don’t just prevent us from applying our intelligence. They can actually contort our intelligence into a weapon against the truth.
Adam Grant • Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know
Being smart doesn’t mean that you’re willing to try on alternative viewpoints, or that you’re comfortable with uncertainty, or that you can recognize your own mistakes. It doesn’t mean you have insight into your own biases. In fact, one thing that high-IQ people might genuinely be better at than other people is convincing themselves that their own... See more
David Brooks • How the Ivy League Broke America
This is mostly why the domains of politics, religion, and others like nutrition are so hostile and polarizing. It’s a bunch of smart but dumb people calling each other idiots because they’ve stopped thinking and only defend what they believe is the one right way.