The meme version is wrong

The famous Dunning-Kruger curve never appeared in the study. The $1 lie experiment just failed its largest replication, and scientists are fighting about it right now. We cover what the research actually says, including the contested parts.

Ten minutes, one bias

Every Wednesday: one cognitive bias, the real experiments behind it, cinematic visuals built for the idea, and one question that catches your own mind in the act.

Check everything

Every claim traces to a primary source, and the sources are listed under every video. That is the whole point. Think sharper. Get fooled less.

A new cognitive bias, every Wednesday

Think sharper. Get fooled less.

▶ youtube.com/@thinkheuristic Subscribe on YouTube →

Read the episode blogs ↓

From the Dunning-Kruger myth to the $1 lie

A new bias, every week.

Research notes, with sources

Ep1 · The most famous graph in psychology is fake The Mount Stupid curve never appeared in the 1999 study. What Dunning-Kruger actually shows. Watch + sources. Ep2 · Why $1 makes you lie to yourself (but $20 doesn't) Cognitive dissonance, the doomsday cult, and the contested 2024 replication. Premieres Wednesday July 8. Ep3 · Why your brain refuses to cut its losses The sunk cost fallacy, the doomed $10M plane, and the 2018 mouse study that broke the rule. Premieres Wednesday July 15. Ep4 · The most famous bias story is half made up Survivorship bias: the WWII planes, Abraham Wald, and why the iconic red-dot diagram is a 2005 web graphic. Premieres Wednesday July 22. Ep5 · Why your brain refuses to prove itself wrong Confirmation bias: the 2-4-6 puzzle almost nobody solves, and why the bias might not be a flaw. Premieres Wednesday July 29. Ep6 · Why your brain trusts pretty people The halo effect: the bias you can't feel, the 1-second election stat, and why "beautiful is good" is only half true. Premieres Wednesday August 5. Channel stats, live Daily snapshots of the channel's growth, in the open.