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The Persuasive Force of Unverified Authority
Questioning the Influence of Expertise
Us humans are not always well equipped with decision-making processes. Especially in dealing with problems routinely encountered in everyday life. Instead we often choose to use short-circuits, which allow the brain to quickly process the world and make decisions by relying on the words of an authority figure we trust, regardless of whether we’ve verified this person’s observation.
The power of unverified authority proves to be one of the most impressive metacognitive illusions. When we cannot readily resolve current uncertainties, such as inferring whether someone is angry or afraid based on their facial expressions, people often give up and make a best guess (sometimes aptly described as a ‘gut feeling’).
In other times appeals are made to authority for answers to their questions. Metacognitive illusions enable us to formulate and execute action plans, even in situations where we have little real knowledge of the problem.
Imagine a simple case-study: a husband attempting to persuade his wife about the correct way to wire an electrical appliance. If he simply says: ‘I don’t think it should be done like that; it should go there,’ she immediately goes on the defensive and questions and challenges his competence.
