Cognitive Engineering

As King Charles III was proclaimed the new monarch of the UK and the Commonwealth realms, we were left questioning if the era of deference is a thing of the past or if it does still hold some meaning today. In this week’s podcast, we discuss deference. Do kings and queens deserve the level of deference they receive or is it an anachronism? We attempt to define the key components of deference, speculate on the differences between deference and respect, discuss the If-By-Whiskey fallacy, Robert Sapolsky’s seminal study of savanna baboons, the Household Cavalry and of course, the Queen’s funeral. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - The origins of deference: When do people prefer lower status? https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2012-05214-001 - Prospect: How deference is smothering the conversation Britain needs https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/deference-smothering-conversation-britain-needs-monarchy-republic-queen-elizabeth-king-charles - The London School of Economics and Political Science: