In his TEDxJacksonville talk, Daniel Stone, PhD, explores the concept of WYSIATI (What You See Is All There Is) and its detrimental effects on society. He delves into the three surprising ways in which WYSIATI leads to undue hate among individuals.
Firstly, Stone discusses how WYSIATI creates a narrow perspective, causing individuals to form biased opinions based solely on the information they have access to. This limited view can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts between people who may have different backgrounds or beliefs.
Secondly, Stone points out that WYSIATI can lead to the demonization of individuals or groups based on incomplete information. This can perpetuate stereotypes and fuel discrimination against marginalized communities.
Lastly, Stone explains how WYSIATI can hinder empathy and understanding, as individuals may not take the time to consider alternative viewpoints or seek out additional information before forming judgments.
Overall, Stone’s talk serves as a thought-provoking reminder of the dangers of relying solely on surface-level information and the importance of cultivating a more holistic understanding of others.
Watch the video by TEDxTalks
Author Video Description
People often assume the worst of people we disagree with, especially those who hold opposing political views, and especially in America today. We know that when *other* people do this, they are usually being irrational — they’re experiencing what behavioral economist Dan Stone calls “undue hate.” But we very rarely see this in ourselves. Why do we tend to make this mistake — to dislike people we disagree with more than we should — and how can we become more self-aware when we make this mistake? Our best bet may be to better understand the range of cognitive biases that contribute to undue hate. In this talk, Stone explains four of these biases and how all four boil down to one underlying psychological factor: WYSIATI (What You See Is All There Is).
#UndueHate #Politics #DisagreeBetter #Right #Left #Bias Dan Stone is Associate Professor and chair of the Economics department at Bowdoin College, author of Undue Hate (MIT Press, 2023), and advisor to the anti-polarization organizations Starts With Us, More Like Us, and Braver Angels. His team’s submission to Stanford University’s Strengthening Democracy Challenge yielded the largest reduction in emotional polarization among the 25 tested. Stone has taught behavioral economics at Bowdoin and Oregon State University since 2011, and his research is on polarization, biases in beliefs, media, sports, and socially responsible capitalism. He has also served with Americorps, worked for the consulting company Novantas, and coaches youth baseball, basketball, and soccer. Originally from Charlottesville, VA, Stone lives in Brunswick, Maine, with his spouse and two children. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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Video “3 Surprising Ways WYSIATI Causes Undue Hate | Daniel Stone, PhD | TEDxJacksonville” was uploaded on 03/17/2025 to Youtube Channel TEDx Talks