GoKawiilBehavioral science explains why experts often fail at persuasion
The article describes a cognitive bias known as 'the curse of knowledge,' in which deep expertise and strong conviction about an issue actually make someone worse at persuading others. This happens because experts struggle to imagine what it's like not to know what they know, distorting how they communicate with less-informed audiences. The piece draws on findings from behavioral economics and neuroscience to explain the phenomenon and offers an alternative approach to persuasion.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
This suggests that subject-matter authority alone does not guarantee communication success, which could be relevant for leaders, marketers, and educators trying to influence others. It implies that effective persuasion may require deliberately unlearning assumptions about audience knowledge rather than simply presenting more facts or stronger arguments.
- The 'curse of knowledge' is a documented cognitive bias from behavioral economics and neuroscience.
- Greater expertise and conviction can paradoxically reduce persuasive effectiveness.
- The article proposes an alternative method to counteract this bias when trying to convince others.
Source: fastcompany.com, 2026-11-02
Published there as: “The biggest mistake people make when trying to persuade others”
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