This discussion covers Dr. Vanessa Bohns' research on the "invisibility cloak illusion" - the idea that people often feel invisible in their daily lives, but are actually more noticed than they realise. Dr. Bohns shares how her early research revealed that people significantly underestimate their influence and ability to get help from strangers. This led to insights about the "spotlight effect", where people overestimate how much others notice their self-conscious behaviors, and the "reverse spotlight effect" where ordinary behaviors have more influence than we think.
The conversation also explores the power dynamics involved in making requests of others, even in professional settings. Dr. Bohns cautions about the difficulty people have in saying no, especially to authority figures. She advises being mindful of this dynamic and giving people space to refuse requests, rather than pressuring them. The discussion highlights the importance of empathetic leadership and finding ways to foster genuine consent and engagement, rather than just compliance. Dr. Bohns shares plans to continue researching these dynamics around influence and consent.
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Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21035835.Vanessa_Bohns
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