Closing Keynote: AAPAE Symposium 2026
\nIt is often thought that humans are gullible\, easily manipulated by demagogues\, advertisers\, and politicians. I will argue that the opposite is true: humans are equipped with a set of psychological mechanisms that allow them to properly evaluate communicated information\, and to reject information that is false or harmful. I will rely on experimental psychology data\, as well as studies showing the failures of mass persuasion\, from Nazi propaganda to American presidential campaigns. I will also suggest that\, when people do accept false beliefs\, they often do so only in a superficial manner. \;
\n\;(Note: this event will be hosted on Australian Eastern Daylight Time\, which is UTC+11).
\nHugo Mercieris a cognitive scientist working at the Jean Nicod Institute in Paris. He studies human reasoning and communication\, as well as cultural evolution. He is the co-author\, with Dan Sperber\, of The Enigma of Reason\, and the author of Not Born Yesterday: The Science of Who we Trust and What we Believe. \;
ORGANIZER;CN=Larelle Bossi;CN=Hugh Breakey;CN=Jacqueline Boaks: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR