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Michael Hallsworth: Escaping the Hypocrisy Trap

Michael Hallsworth: Escaping the Hypocrisy Trap

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 Today we’re putting The Tonearm's needle on author and behavioral scientist Michael Hallsworth.Michel has spent the last two decades applying behavioral science to real-world problems at the Behavioural Insights Team. He's held positions at Princeton, Columbia, Imperial College London, and the University of Pennsylvania.Michael's new book, The Hypocrisy Trap, takes on something we all recognize instantly but rarely understand: why we're so quick to spot hypocrisy in others yet are blind to it in ourselves. He shows how our hunt for inconsistency has become a weapon in politics and daily life, one that actually breeds more of what it tries to eliminate. The book reveals why some hypocrisy might be unavoidable in functioning democracies, and how our relentless attacks on it can backfire in dangerous ways.We talk about double standards, the psychology behind moral accusations, and why the most authentic-seeming politicians might be the most deceptive. Michael explains how we can tell the difference between hypocrisy that harms society and the everyday compromises that allow us to function together.–Dig DeeperGuest and BooksVisit Michael Hallsworth at michaelhallsworth.comPurchase Michael Hallsworth's The Hypocrisy Trap: How Changing What We Criticize Can Improve Our Lives from MIT Press, Penguin Random House, Bookshop, Barnes and Noble, or AmazonMichael Hallsworth and Elspeth Kirkman's Behavioral Insights from MIT PressConnect with Michael Hallsworth on LinkedInBehavioral Scientist column by Michael HallsworthOrganizations and InstitutionsThe Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) - World-leading organization applying behavioral science in support of social purpose goalsDr. Michael Hallsworth at BITMaster of Behavioral and Decision Sciences Program at University of PennsylvaniaImperial College LondonColumbia UniversityPrinceton UniversityKey Concepts and ResearchBehavioral economics and public policy - Michael Hallsworth's Google Scholar profileNature Human Behaviour - Journal featuring Hallsworth's researchJournal of Public EconomicsThe LancetHistorical and Philosophical ReferencesHannah Arendt's On Revolution - Analysis of the French and American RevolutionsHannah Arendt on hypocrisy and the Reign of Terror - "Robespierre's war upon hypocrisy transformed the 'despotism of liberty' into the Reign of Terror"The French Revolution Reign of Terror - Historical contextMaximilien Robespierre - Key figure in the French RevolutionPolitical Examples DiscussedBoris Johnson's COVID-19 party scandal - The "Partygate" scandal discussed in the episodeBrexit and UK politicsRelated Reading"Our Hypocrisy Blind Spot" by Michael Hallsworth - Essay in Behavioral Scientist"The Future of Behavioral Insights Demands Human-Centered Design" - Hallsworth and Kirkman on behavioral scienceHannah Arendt quotes on hypocrisy - "What makes it so plausible to assume that hypocrisy is the vice of vices is that integrity can indeed exist under the cover of all other vices except this one"-Dig into this episode's complete show notes at podcast.thetonearm.com–• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate The Tonearm ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of The Tonearm in your podcast app of choice.• Looking for more? Visit podcast.thetonearm.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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