One doesn’t need to look too far to find acts of stupidity where common sense has taken a backseat. You can easily find facepalm-worthy moments of popular celebrities online. But it’s not just them; most of us, at some point have acted foolishly.
However, it’s ignorant people who don’t take time to pause and reflect. They often stick to their opinions, no matter how irrational they sound. These people are oblivious to their own shortcomings. Sometimes when they are presented with a chance to learn and grow, they find it difficult to break free from their usual habits.
Reasoning with such stubborn people can be quite frustrating. And some people deal with these hopeless instances by calling out stupid people online. Just like members of the r/facepalm group, who have been doing this since August 2009. In the last 15 years, they have amassed a community of more than 8 million people, who often share the most disappointing moments they have witnessed.
But what exactly is stupidity? It’s when our ability to learn and understand things gets messed up. Several prominent psychologists believe that cognitive limitations are the reason behind people’s foolish actions and irrational beliefs. Research highlights how human cognition and decision-making persistently cause these biases. Depending on the situation, people switch from quick, intuitive thinking to slow, logical thinking.
Now, our brain’s frontal lobes are responsible for rational thinking. But it can be overridden by the amygdala, a small, almond-shaped structure that usually processes emotions, like fear and aggression. Neuroscientists noted that in emergencies requiring quick decision-making, slower, rational information processing is ignored by the brain.
So, cognitive biases can help us understand some of the stupid decisions people make. For instance, people can be vulnerable to confirmation bias, where they tend to stick to information based on their existing beliefs. In such cases, they just ignore any evidence that contradicts them.
Imagine someone who strongly believes in a particular conspiracy theory. They will not think twice before dismissing any evidence or arguments that contradict their preconceived idea. This selective attention to available information can make them make nonsensical remarks.
A new study published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface suggests that social media might be amplifying such stupidity. While constantly scrolling through our phones, we might encounter false or misleading information presented as fact. In such cases, we might make stupid comments due to our inaccurate knowledge.
