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Bullsh*t is easy to detect: It's common on college campuses, in political debates, and even in online dating profiles. Recently, Poynter reported that researchers are making strides in understanding what drives people to bullsh*t in the first place.
In a recent study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Wake Forest University psychologist John V. Petrocelli defines BS as "communications that stem from a lack of concern for truth, evidence, or established knowledge across semantic, logical, systemic, or empirical domains." To explore what motivates such behavior, Petrocelli conducted two experiments. In the first, participants filled out a survey—one version had a note saying their answers were optional, while the other did not. Those who felt compelled to answer were more likely to fabricate, indicating that BS often arises from societal pressure.
In the second experiment, undergraduate psychology students were asked to complete a similar survey. This time, some were given freedom to write whatever they wished, while others were told their responses would be evaluated by an expert. Once again, those without restrictions were more prone to indulging in BS without hesitation.
According to Petrocelli, this suggests that people are more likely to bullsh*t when there's no one present to call them out on it. In his paper, he writes, "When receiving a social pass for bullsh*tting is not expected to be easy—when people are held accountable or when they anticipate needing to defend their views to those who disagree—people seem to avoid bullsh*tting."
These findings offer some hope for those who still value honest, transparent discussions. Bullsh*t isn't inevitable: It only thrives under the right circumstances. The best defense against BS is the ability to recognize it and hold others accountable. Sadly, most people aren't great at spotting nonsense when it’s presented as something meaningful.
