Situational Factors Influencing Receptivity to Bullshit

Shelby J. McGrew,Lucas A. Keefer,Mitch Brown

doi:10.32872/spb.v14i3.37393

Abstract

Individuals are motivated to maintain a sense of meaning, and enact cognitive processes to do so (e.g., perceiving structure in the environment). This motivation to find meaning may ultimately impact humans’ interpretation of "bullshit", statements intended to convey profundity without any meaning. Conversely, subtle cues threatening the meaningfulness of bullshit may elicit greater skepticism. Three studies tested situational factors predicted to heighten or diminish susceptibility to bullshit by changing motivations to seek meaning. We employed diverse methods including symbolic meaning threat (Study 1), social exclusion (Cyberball; Study 2), and manipulating cognitive fluency (Study 3). Taken together, the results indicate basic processes shaping the detection of meaning have implications for the appraisal of ambiguously insightful information.

Highlights

Individuals are motivated to maintain a sense of meaning, and enact cognitive processes to do so
The results indicate basic processes shaping the detection of meaning have implications for the appraisal of ambiguously insightful information
To determine why individuals are swayed by bullshit, we explored the unique possi‐ bility that an individual’s susceptibility to bullshit depends on basic processes that shape the detection of meaning

Summary

Introduction

Individuals are motivated to maintain a sense of meaning, and enact cognitive processes to do so (e.g., perceiving structure in the environment). Individuals must distinguish true from false (or distorted) information, something done with considerable accuracy, albeit im‐ perfectly (Bond & DePaulo, 2006) We draw on a wealth of literature exploring the view that peo‐ ple strive to live meaningful lives with purpose and attempt to instill thematic coherence in information around them This claim has long been a staple of hu‐ manistic and existential perspectives in psychology, renewed interest in meaning demon‐ strates the contemporary significance of this claim, related to the presence of, and search for, meaning (Steger, Frazier, Oishi, & Kaler, 2006). Search for meaning corresponds with negative outcomes, including depression and anxiety (Steger et al, 2006; Steger et al, 2009)

Methods

Results

Conclusion