Habitual Dishonesty Reduces Applied Intelligence

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In modern intellectual life, honesty is punished and dishonesty is rewarded; honest brain pathways decay, dishonest brain pathways enlarge.

After years and years of conditioning in dishonesty, the typical modern intellectual (whether journalist, scientist, lawyer, teacher, doctor or whatever) becomes physically unable to think straight.

Bruce Charlton
July 19, 2013
Dishonesty reduces applied intelligence: re-wires the brain

Emphasis in the original.

If true, this would explain the stupidity of so many politicians. For quite some time I’ve known liars will frequently lie without any possible motive and, in fact, it is against their best interests. How strange, I thought. They seem to be unable to help themselves. This could explain why that happens.

Via email from Rolf.

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4 thoughts on “Habitual Dishonesty Reduces Applied Intelligence”

  1. “Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth”, J. Goebbels

    Add in the fact most people do not want to be wrong about something, it is quite possible to have the unconscious mind reinforcing a false belief or memory.

  2. I’m sure this is where the whole “spare the rod, and spoil the child”, thing comes from.
    Setting a neural pathway for honesty through the liberal application of PTSD.
    Thus, the inverse. Removal of corporal punishment and self-esteem training has led us to the society of Joe Biden as president. An expectation and acceptance of dishonesty in politics/government. And a people so ignorant they think they can change their gender.
    Funny fact; growing up in the 60’s-70’s it was pretty universal that one would rather take the beating from dad, than the speech from mom.
    PTSD works.

  3. If you habitually lie you will become a habitual liar. If you habitually believe in things that are not possible then you can’t function in the real world where those things you believe in don’t function. Denial is a powerful entity.

  4. I have noticed that salesmen often have no concept of objective truth. If a statement seems like it could make the sale, they’ll say it. This applies to the whole gamut: cars, industrial equipment and services, politics, religion…

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