I first read this post by Scott Adams:
Quantifying Gullibility
http://dilbert.com/blog/entry/quantifying_gullibility/
Which lead me to read the article he referenced:
Research Pinpoints Brain’s ‘Gullibility’ Center
Changes in this region could explain why seniors, children are less doubting
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/08/24/research-pinpoints-brains-gullibility-center
I admit that I felt like I was going to be fed a line, but both articles appear to be serious and not some sort of April Fools joke. The idea that people become more gullible as they get older jives with my experiences. I felt my father got very credulous as he got older and we had some rather intense discussions (or arguments, depending on your point of view) on some stuff he really seemed to want me to believe (check out Zecharia Sitchin for just one instance). I have other relatives, who shall remain nameless, whose behavior echos one of Scott’s commenters:
I’ve observed the same thing. I had chalked it up to confirmation bias rather than simple gullibility, but maybe this is a better explanation. I have a father-in-law who used to be an engineer with the military. A brilliant guy by any intelligence test you might care to use. But he now believes, and shares, every single anti-Obama story he hears, no questions asked, no sources checked. The absolute worst incident came a few months ago when he shared a satirical story about Obama supposedly being foreclosed upon. The story itself, in my opinion, was hilarious. Except that my father in law didn’t get the joke, and shared it with his Facebook page as further evidence of just how dumb and irresponsible Obama is. It’s gotten to the point where I’m genuinely embarrassed by a man I used to have nothing but respect for.
I recall being quite credulous as a youth and having a very strong belief in UFOs, but as I got older and more objectively evaluated the so-called evidence it became increasingly clear to me that there was no ‘there’ there. I admit, though, to holding out hope for Sasquatch, but faith is sometimes hard to cling to. I do worry a bit, though, that I might follow in my father’s footsteps and get more credulous (that does sound more polite than gullible, doesn’t it?) as I get older. He was a rather grouchy bear as I grew up, so we really didn’t have much in the way of conversation until he retired, so I really don’t know what he was like when he was younger, so maybe he started off from a more credulous location.
Like one of the commenters, I wonder if there could be any treatment developed. I wonder, though, if people would want to give up their gullibility. I can imagine it is a warm safe place where evidence that contradicts your thoughts is simply ignored. Certainly a much simpler place to be, if more dangerous (no amount of wishful thinking will keep a truck from mowing you down if you wander onto a busy road).
You’re saying there’s a bullshit filter that waxes and wanes with age. I don’t believe it, and I’m old.