Comments on: The pattern behind self-deception: Michael Shermer on TED.com

By: Desiree Scorcelletti

Desiree Scorcelletti — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 22:49:05 +0000

I am uniquely unimpressed with this talk. The science he is referring to is dated, oversimplified, and paints an incomplete picture. Brain localization is becoming more and more elusive as research continues while behaviorism is sooooo 1950′s. I’m really not even sure what his driving point was… Sometimes we see things that aren’t there because our brains have developed to see patterns???? AND??? Selective evidence gathering to support our beliefs exists! Tell everyone you know!! =)

Word to Stanis?aw Krawczyk, I agree.

By: Stanis?aw Krawczyk

Stanis?aw Krawczyk — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

The talk is obviously interesting and well delivered. Still, I feel it has a little patternicity itself.

Firstly, the similarity between schizophrenia and patternicity is superficial. Not all the people with schizophrenia are paranoid, although this is certainly the best known type of the disease. Apart from that, the core of schizophrenia appears to be in the disintegration of personality, not in the hyperactivity of any single brain-mind mechanism.

More importantly, is the example with the predator not arbitrary? Let us think about a type I error that is more harmful than type II. For instance, after having eaten a few kinds of mushrooms, an animal might “think” that all other types were edible, too, including toadstools.

Therefore, I am not sure I am convinced as far as the evolutionary basis for patternicity is concerned. Personally, I would say that patterns simply make the world look more understandable and predictable, which might be needed for human beings and animals alike.

By: Stanis?aw Krawczyk

Stanis?aw Krawczyk — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

…For instance, in Aaron Antonovsky’ salutological approach to health and disease it is strongly emphasized that a sense of coherence (which includes i.a. the belief that the world is understandable and predictable) plays an important role in our wellbeing.

Of course, this does not exclude the idea of evolutionary roots itself; however, the type I / type II explanation is somewhat dubious.