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Key points
- Bullsh*t is more complicated than lying.
- Bullsh*t is used under conditions of low self-regulatory abilities, lack of expertise, or low social accountability
- Bullsh*t is effective on those who endorse conspiracy theories and have low intelligence, among other qualities.
- Bullsh*t can be spotted through recognition of a number of characteristics of the situation and bullsh*tter.
Being bullsh*tted happens every day. We all have a friend or family member who always has a story so full of it we know they are just trying to one-up everyone else. We are bombarded by social media warriors who spew misinformation for personal gain.
We’ve listened to famous athletes like Alex Rodriguez and Lance Armstrong pedal lies about doping in the face of incontrovertible evidence. Politicians regularly regale us with tales and promises with little regard for truth. Those of us in the forensic or legal fields often run up against “expert” witnesses just a bit too sure of themselves.
Facing bullsh*t is often annoying. And worse, it can do real damage. Given the universality of being bullsh*tted, would it shock you if I said there is an entire body of science on bullsh*t? Good news: there is!
What is Bullsh*t?
Bullsh*t is hard to define. We might not be able to come up with the exact words, but we know it when we hear or see it. Social scientists, however, define bullsh*tting as the act of “communicating with no regard for truth and/or evidence.”
What’s the difference between a liar and a bullsh*tter? Lying is effortful deceit and tends to be viewed more negatively than bullsh*tting. I think about it this way: A liar lies. A bullsh*tter lies with just a tad too many rainbow sprinkles on top. Interestingly, bullsh*t has been shown to be more effective than lying.
The science of bullsh*t has provided valuable insights that can help deal with the bullsh*tters. In particular, research on bullsh*t has covered:
1. What makes someone shovel bullsh*t?
John Petrocelli is a psychologist at Wake Forest University and a recognized expert in the science of bullsh*t. He has conducted important work illuminating influences leading one to bullsh*t.
For example, he reported experimental studies showing that people tend to bullsh*t under two conditions:
- in the face of situations where they have no expertise
- when they do not expect to be held accountable for the behavior
Another study by his group showed that bullsh*tters tend to be low in the ability to regulate their thoughts, feelings, and actions.
2. Who is most at-risk for eating up bullsh*t?
A number of scientific studies have identified who is most susceptible to bullsh*tters. For instance, people who tend to fall for bullsh*t:
- hold strong conspiracy beliefs and populist attitudes
- have lower verbal and mathematical intelligence
- demonstrate a poor ability to regulate thoughts and behaviors
- rely on gut instinct
Especially given our polarized political landscape, it’s reasonable to wonder how political ideology and taking in bullsh*t are related. Turns out the answer is complicated!
An international collaboration between U.S. and Swedish researchers addressed this topic. A socially conservative self-concept and adherence to strict moral beliefs were reliably tied to being vulnerable to bullsh*t. Bullsh*t vulnerability was also more common for persons holding center and left economic self-labels. Susceptibility to bullsh*t was highest among left-wing green voters.
3. When does bullsh*tting work?
Although bullsh*tting can be easy to spot, it also frequently works. Petrocelli identified situations when bullsh*tting can be effective. Bullsh*tting for the purpose of persuading others can be effective when arguments are weak. It can also be impactful when aspects of a situation cue peripheral information processing, or making decisions based on surface cues like attractiveness or emotion.
Ironically, there is also reason to believe that bullsh*tters may be susceptible to bullsh*t themselves. Indeed, research suggests that people who try to bullsh*t to impress others tend to be fooled by bullsh*t themselves. The impact of bullsh*t may depend on the perceived credibility of the source as well. That is, how trustworthy or dependable the bullsh*tter is perceived, the greater the chance the bullsh*t is successful.
4. How can we see or smell the bullsh*t?
Luckily, our kind Canadian neighbors to the north have shed light on flavors of bullsh*tting that can easily be recognized. Researchers at the University of Waterloo identified two types of everyday bullsh*t: persuasive and evasive. Persuasive bullsh*t is marked by efforts to be impressive or socially accepted. A person may be trying to misrepresent their subject matter expertise or use words to be perceived as exciting. People tend to try persuasive bullsh*tting when they think they won’t be caught. Evasive bullsh*t, on the other hand, is driven by an avoidant tendency. Such bullsh*t may help someone avoid embarrassment or social interaction altogether. It may also be aimed at concealing their one’s real opinions.
Bullsh*tters tend to have certain qualities about them. A number of character traits have been linked to efforts to persuade others with bullsh*t: overconfidence in one’s intellect, low intelligence, an inability to self-reflect, and poor self-awareness.
So what are we to make of the science of bullsh*t? Bullsh*t is:
- More than simple lying.
- Used under conditions of low self-regulatory abilities, lack of expertise, or low social accountability.
- Effective on persons holding an array of characteristics (e.g., lower intelligence) and attitudes (e.g., tendency to believe conspiracies), although the politics-bullsh*t receptivity relationship is complicated.
- Persuasive when arguments are weak, the audience engages in emotional or gut-driven decision-making, or the bullsh*tter is perceived as credible.
- Identifiable through a number of characteristics of the bullsh*t situation (e.g., efforts to be avoidant) or personality of the bullsh*tter (e.g., poor self-awareness).
Now you’re armed with good science—watch out for the bullsh*t!
