"If you believe that the way a stranger looks and acts is a reliable clue to the way they feel... then you’re going to make mistakes." Gladwell challenges the belief that people's external expressions reliably reflect their internal emotions. He uses examples like Amanda Knox and Bernie Madoff to illustrate how mismatched behavior can lead to misjudgment. This fallacy is particularly dangerous in law enforcement, where officers often rely on demeanor to assess guilt, leading to wrongful convictions and systemic biases. | Malcolm Gladwell | Talking to Strangers

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The Fallacy of Transparency

"If you believe that the way a stranger looks and acts is a reliable clue to the way they feel... then you’re going to make mistakes." Gladwell challenges the belief that people's external expressions reliably reflect their internal emotions. He uses examples like Amanda Knox and Bernie Madoff to illustrate how mismatched behavior can lead to misjudgment. This fallacy is particularly dangerous in law enforcement, where officers often rely on demeanor to assess guilt, leading to wrongful convictions and systemic biases.

-- Malcolm Gladwell