YEEEE.... Cognitive Twist
Chapter 1

The psychology of the lie

Chapter 2

Masterpieces of the page

Chapter 3

Screen-tested deception

Chapter 4

Spotting the cracks

YOUR GOAL

Master of Inside the minds of literary liars

Ch 1 · The psychology of the lie
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bebelle4thebest
Glossary
cognitive twist (noun)
A mental shock when you realize what you thought was true in a story is actually a lie. Think of finding out the main character was the villain all along!

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mahan

mahan Lava Planet HD 3167 b

Webb caught a cosmic liar in HD 3167 b, hiding its burning lava under a mask of air!

Oct 7

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nella

nella Our brain's default trust setting makes mystery plot twists highly satisfying.

Oct 7

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elmo
The thrill of the cognitive twist

elmo Getting fooled by a narrator triggers a safe, exciting chemical rush in our brains.

Oct 6

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elmo
The truth default theory in action

elmo We naturally assume people are telling the truth until overwhelming evidence proves otherwise.

Oct 6

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elmo
Believe Me Not
BETA

elmo Sort the clues from the lies to learn how thriller writers use unreliable narrators.

Oct 6

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elmo
Fun Fact

Brain chemistry: When a twist reveals a narrator lied, your brain releases dopamine, treating the surprise like a solved puzzle.

Oct 6

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elmo
Gossip

Do you trust people easily in real life or are you a skeptic?

Oct 6

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elmo
Quiz

What is the term for an unreliable narrator who is too young or innocent to understand the events they describe?

Oct 6

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bebelle4thebest
Note

YEEEE.... Cognitive Twist

1h ago

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elmo

elmo The Psychology of Lying

Hide the truth, weave the plot, brain runs hot.

Oct 6

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elmo

elmo Thriller writers exploit the psychology of the Truth-Default Theory

Oct 6

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elmo
Quiz

What psychological phenomenon causes readers to search for information that confirms their existing trust in a narrator?

Oct 6

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elmo

elmo Our brains naturally project stories and motives onto the world

Oct 6

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elmo
Quiz

Which type of narrator in Riggan's system exaggerates their own achievements for comedic or heroic effect?

Oct 6

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elmo

elmo The psychology of unreliable narrators in literature

Oct 6

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elmo
Quiz

In William Riggan's 1981 study, how many distinct types of unreliable narrators were identified?

Oct 6

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elmo
Quiz

Which chemical is released in the brain when we experience a satisfying, surprising plot twist?

Oct 6

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elmo
Quiz

Which psychologists showed in 1944 that humans naturally assign complex motives even to moving geometric shapes?

Oct 6

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elmo
Quiz

What is the name of the theory proposed by Timothy Levine in 2014 about our natural tendency to believe others?

Oct 6