The phenomenon of why people are easily deceived is a major topic in social and cognitive psychology. Psychologically, deception is not just about the "foolishness" of the victim, but rather the exploitation of gaps in how the human brain works. Here are some psychological reasons why humans are highly vulnerable to deception:
1. "Fast" vs "Slow" Thinking Systems
Psychologist Daniel Kahneman explains that our brain has two thinking systems:
- System 1 (Fast Thinking): Automatic, emotional, and uses shortcuts (heuristics).
- System 2 (Slow Thinking): Logical, analytical, and requires a lot of energy.
Scammers typically create situations (such as emergencies or limited offers) that force us to use System 1. When we feel rushed or overly excited, the logical System 2 often "shuts down" or fails to process information properly.
2. Cognitive Biases (Distortions in Thinking Patterns)
There are several biases that cause us to "turn a blind eye" to irregularities:
- Optimism Bias: The belief that "bad things won’t happen to me." This makes people feel safe when clicking suspicious links or investing in fraudulent schemes.
- Confirmation Bias: We tend to only seek out information that supports what we want to believe. If someone is desperate to get rich, they will only look at success testimonials and ignore signs of deception.
- The Halo Effect: If someone appears authoritative, attractive, or uses religious/wealth attributes, we automatically assume they are honest without verifying the facts.
3. Principles of Persuasion (Robert Cialdini)
Psychologist Robert Cialdini identified several social triggers that are often misused by scammers:
- Authority: Humans tend to obey figures who appear to be experts or in positions of power (e.g., scammers claiming to be from the police or a bank).
- Scarcity: "Only 5 minutes left!" or "Only for the first 10 people!" This pressure creates a fear of missing out (FOMO).
- Social Proof: Seeing other people (or fake accounts) participating makes us feel the action is safe and correct.
4. Emotional Manipulation (Emotional Arousal)
When emotions run high—whether fear (threat of account blocking) or greed (billion-dollar prizes)—our cognitive ability drops drastically. Scammers use social engineering techniques to put victims in a heightened emotional state so they cannot think clearly.
5. Basic Trust (Truth Default Theory)
Psychologist Timothy Levine proposes the theory that humans naturally have a "factory setting" to trust others. If we did not have this basic trust, society could not function as we would be constantly suspicious of one another. Scammers exploit this well-intentioned evolutionary tendency.
Simple Ways to Avoid Being Deceived:
- Use the "10-Second Pause": When receiving an offer or threat, pause briefly to activate your System 2.
- Verify Independently: Do not use contact information provided by the person reaching out to you; find official contact details on your own.
- Be Wary of High Emotions: If you suddenly feel extremely scared or overjoyed, it is a warning sign that your logic is being compromised.