In this episode of the Formula for Creating Value podcast, I’m joined by two leading figures in cognitive science, Dr. Daniel Simons and Dr. Christopher Chabris, co-authors of the book Nobody’s Fool. Together, we explore the fascinating ways our minds can betray us and make us susceptible to deception. Known for their groundbreaking work on inattentional blindness—especially their famous "invisible gorilla" experiment—Dan and Chris have spent their careers studying the limits of human perception and awareness, uncovering how easily we overlook the obvious.

We start by discussing their 2004 Ig Nobel Prize-winning research, which humorously exposes the surprising gaps in our attention. Their insights reveal that we often overestimate our ability to notice what's right in front of us, a concept that has profound implications, from understanding why we miss key details to recognizing the hidden risks we face in daily life. This sets the stage for a broader conversation about our cognitive blind spots and how scammers and other deceivers use simple psychological triggers to exploit these vulnerabilities.

We also dive into the cultural and psychological aspects of deception, exploring why we’re drawn to stories of clever trickery in movies like "The Sting", "Catch Me If You Can" and "Ocean’s 11". Dan and Chris reflect on how recognizing common scam tactics can actually improve our ability to spot them in real life. They emphasize that cautious—and not just critical—thinking is a powerful tool for protecting ourselves from the pitfalls of our own mental shortcuts.

As we wrap up, we touch on a formula for creating value by learning how to protect it. Dan and Chris share practical advice on recognizing deceptive patterns and making more informed decisions to avoid costly mistakes. They leave us with valuable insights from Nobody’s Fool, showing how we can outsmart the tricks our own minds might play on us.

(02:18 ) The Ig Nobel Prize and the Invisible Gorilla Experiment (06:02 ) Cultural Perspectives on Deception: East vs. West (15:15 ) Strategies to Protect Ourselves from Scams and Deception (19:26 ) The Effectiveness of Political Ads: Do Banners and Flags Work? (24:27 ) Why Are Scam Emails So Badly Written? (28:12 ) Can We Use Psychological Triggers to Protect People from Deception? (33:53 ) Dan’s formula for creating value (35:04 ) Chris’ formula for creating value

The Invisible Gorilla Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/TheInvisibleGorilla

Daniel Simons’ Linkedin profile

https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-simons-54646325a/

Daniel Simons’ web page

https://dansimons.com/

Christopher Chabris’ Linkedin profile

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherchabris/

Christopher Chabris’ X account

https://x.com/cfchabris

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