This is a short course on the human psychological tendency to be right, and how that tendency fuels conflict. It’s designed to help you understand the cognitive underpinnings of this common human drive toward being right, how it influences workplace conflict, and how we might mitigate its negative effects at work.
For the full episode, including a downloadable eBook supplement, please join Dr. Pollack Peaceful Leaders Club at https://peacefulleadersacademy.com/club/. Club members get access to exclusive content, Dr. Pollack's online course library, and coaching groups with Dr. Pollack and his team.
For conflict intervention and training programs, please visit our website to get more information: https://pollackpeacebuilding.com/
References for this episode: https://peacefulleadersacademy.com/club/references/rightness-july-2025/
00:00 Introduction
02:45 The Psychology of Rightness
05:38 Cognitive Biases Overview
07:53 Confirmation Bias
10:09 Anchoring Bias
12:15 Bias Blind Spot & Naive Realism
14:01 Dunning-Kruger Effect (Overconfidence)
16:28 How Being Right Leads to Conflict
18:30 Costs of Rightness at Work
20:44 Where to Access Full Episode

Host: Dr. Jeremy Pollack from Pollack Peacebuilding Systems

More from Dr. Pollack:

• Peaceful Leaders Academy
• Conflict Resolution Playbook: Practical Communication Skills for Preventing, Managing, and Resolving Conflict
• FREE e-book: The Ultimate 12-Step Guide to Coworker Mediation: Free Ebook - Pollack Peacebuilding Systems

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