We've decided by consensus that consensus is good. In her new book, In Defense of Troublemakers, psychologist Charlan Nemeth argues that this principle is completely wrong: left unchallenged, the majority opinion is often biased, unoriginal, or false. It leads planes and markets to crash, causes juries to convict innocent people, and can quite literally make people think blue is green.We can make better decisions by embracing dissent. Dissent forces us to question the status quo, consider more information, and engage in creative decision-making. Lone objectors make people question their assumptions and bring groups far closer to truth, regardless of whether they are right or wrong.This is an essential conversation for anyone who works in groups—Charlan's insights will radically change the way you think, listen, and make decisions.
Charlan Nemeth is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. She lives in San Francisco.
show less
Charlan Nemeth is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. She lives in San Francisco.
We've decided by consensus that consensus is good. In her new book, In Defense of Troublemakers, psychologist Charlan Nemeth argues that this principle is completely wrong: left unchallenged, the majority opinion is often biased, unoriginal, or false. It leads planes and markets to crash, causes juries to convict innocent people, and can quite literally make people think blue is green.We can make better decisions by embracing dissent. Dissent forces us to question the status quo, consider more information, and engage in creative decision-making. Lone objectors make people question their assumptions and bring groups far closer to truth, regardless of whether they are right or wrong.This is an essential conversation for anyone who works in groups—Charlan's insights will radically change the way you think, listen, and make decisions.
Charlan Nemeth is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. She lives in San Francisco.
read more
Charlan Nemeth is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. She lives in San Francisco.
show less
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