Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
There’s a cognitive bias most of us never notice: we assume we’re the rational ones. It’s called naïve realism—the belief that we see facts as they are, while those who disagree with us are biased, misinformed, or simply wrong.
The result? When someone pushes back, we tend to question their judgment instead of our own interpretation. That’s why so many conversations stall or turn into confrontation.
Listen to the full IdeaCast episode here: https://s.hbr.org/3OM4OLO
There’s a cognitive bias most of us never notice: we assume we’re the rational ones. It’s called naïve realism—the belief that we see facts as they are, while those who disagree with us are biased, misinformed, or simply wrong.
The result? When someone pushes back, we tend to question their judgment instead of our own interpretation. That’s why so many conversations stall or turn into confrontation.
Listen to the full IdeaCast episode here: https://s.hbr.org/3OM4OLO
