Eli5: Why is it easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled?

Question

Eli5: Why is it easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled?

In: 634

Answer 1

When you try to convince someone they’ve been fooled they resist it because they don’t want to feel stupid, especially if they’ve been conned into something that becomes a part of their identity. It’s kind of like the sunk cost fallacy – you’re already invested, if you bail now that investment is wasted.

Answer 2

When you try to convince someone they’ve been fooled they resist it because they don’t want to feel stupid, especially if they’ve been conned into something that becomes a part of their identity. It’s kind of like the sunk cost fallacy – you’re already invested, if you bail now that investment is wasted.