Summary
Overview
Dr. Chris and Dr. Zand explore the complex world of belief and its profound impact on health and wellbeing. Joined by Professor Ryan McKay from Royal Holloway University, they examine how beliefs form, why they're so hard to change, and how they directly affect our physical experiences. The discussion covers everything from the placebo effect to self-signaling, revealing how beliefs function both as maps of reality and as social identities. The episode concludes with an unexpected experiment in wellness trends—a screaming session that yields surprising results.
The Nature and Formation of Beliefs
Professor Ryan McKay introduces two fundamental ways of understanding beliefs: the epistemic conception, where beliefs function as accurate maps of reality, and the social conception, where beliefs signal group membership and identity. He explains that perception isn't direct—our brains construct a 'best guess' of the world using sensory information combined with preconceptions. This has profound implications for health, as vague symptoms get interpreted through the lens of our existing beliefs about our bodies.
- Beliefs serve two functions: as accurate maps of reality (epistemic) and as signals of social identity and group membership
- The brain is essentially a prediction engine that uses beliefs as building blocks to anticipate what happens next
- We don't directly perceive the world—perception is always a 'live best guess' combining sensory data with preconceptions
- Strong beliefs about having a fragile heart can make minor symptoms feel alarming and meaningful
" Just as when you're exploring an unfamiliar city or navigating a strange landscape, you would want to be equipped with the most accurate map possible, so should you want your belief to be as accurate and up-to-date as possible. "
" We don't just live in a kind of physical world, we're also living in a social world, so we want to have more than just accurate beliefs, we also need allies. "
Why False Beliefs Persist: The Ultra-Processed Belief Analogy
McKay introduces a brilliant analogy comparing persistent false beliefs to ultra-processed foods—both are consumed despite being unhealthy because they're palatable and satisfying. Beliefs become difficult to change when they're tied to identity and emotion, making belief revision feel like dismantling the foundation of one's social and emotional life. He explains how beliefs can be 'epistemically non-nutritious' but emotionally satisfying, particularly those that blame problems on outgroups.
- False beliefs persist like ultra-processed foods—they're not 'epistemically nutritious' but they're palatable and easy to digest
- Beliefs that blame problems on other groups are particularly easy to adopt and hard to change
- Changing beliefs isn't like altering an entry in a ledger—it can feel like dismantling social relationships and emotional foundations
- Even small belief changes, like updating views on healthy food within a family, can involve social upheaval
" Some kind of poorly evidenced beliefs might not be epistemically nutritious, but they can make us feel good. So we kind of swallow them hook, line and sinker and they're really easy to digest in that way. "
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