John V. Petrocelli Books
John V. Petrocelli is a social psychologist and professor of psychology at Wake Forest University.
Known for: The Life-Changing Science of Detecting Bullshit
Books by John V. Petrocelli
The Life-Changing Science of Detecting Bullshit
In this engaging and evidence-based book, social psychologist John V. Petrocelli explores the psychology of misinformation, persuasion, and critical thinking. Drawing on decades of research, he explains why people fall for misleading claims, how 'bullshit' differs from lying, and how to cultivate intellectual humility and skepticism to make better decisions in everyday life.
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Understanding Bullshit: Indifference to Truth
Early in the book, I draw a sharp line between lying and bullshitting. A liar knows the truth and seeks to distort or conceal it. A bullshitter, in contrast, has no real interest in whether what they say is true or false—they care only that it sounds persuasive. This distinction, originally noted by...
From The Life-Changing Science of Detecting Bullshit
Cognitive Biases and the Bullshit Trap
Why do we fall for bullshit so easily? The answer lies in the shortcuts our minds take. Human cognition is efficient but not always accurate. We rely on heuristics—mental rules of thumb—that help us make quick judgments. Sometimes these shortcuts make us vulnerable. Take the fluency effect: we’re m...
From The Life-Changing Science of Detecting Bullshit
About John V. Petrocelli
John V. Petrocelli is a social psychologist and professor of psychology at Wake Forest University. His research focuses on judgment, decision-making, and the psychology of belief formation. He is known for his work on the 'bullshitting' phenomenon and has published widely in academic journals and po...
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John V. Petrocelli is a social psychologist and professor of psychology at Wake Forest University. His research focuses on judgment, decision-making, and the psychology of belief formation. He is known for his work on the 'bullshitting' phenomenon and has published widely in academic journals and po...
John V. Petrocelli is a social psychologist and professor of psychology at Wake Forest University. His research focuses on judgment, decision-making, and the psychology of belief formation. He is known for his work on the 'bullshitting' phenomenon and has published widely in academic journals and popular media.
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John V. Petrocelli is a social psychologist and professor of psychology at Wake Forest University.
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