Question: Why is it so hard to say you’re wrong?

Huma Shah answered on 5 Nov 2016:

Hello Lexie Adams,

Thank you for this interesting question.

Humans don’t like looking silly when they’ve been proved to be wrong – but actually they have learnt something. Of course reading widely, and doing research properly before you say or write something can avoid this, but not everyone has time or likes to read. Sometimes your belief takes over and you might say or write something that someone else can prove is untrue.

I’d recommend Kathryn Schulz’s book ‘Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margins of Error’ – it’s an easy read, perhaps your school library could buy a copy, it’s available on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005DI9DPM/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

So I’d say, it’s a learning exercise when you get something wrong 🙂

Huma