Tuesday, September 20, 2011

The McGurk Effect

It's amazing how we all filter the things we hear through the lens we already possess and have used to interpret information most of our lives. And even if we've misunderstood what somebody has said, it's often the case that no amount of clarification or explanation will convince us that the person hasn't said what we would swear we heard. This video is an amazing example of that effect. It's called The McGurk Effect. I think you'll be amazed . . .

7 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:33 PM

    Could this be similar to two people hearing the same message of grace but walking away with a different message? The gospel we hear is the "power of God unto salvation" but to the religious heart "it is foolishness." The one heart accepts, but the other heart perverts.

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  2. The first thing that came to mind was why I usually found myself closing my eyes whenever someone was preaching or speaking in meetings (seriously).

    I wonder how this phenomenon has effected or skewed our beliefs? Maybe the road to knowing is done with eyes wide-shut.

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  3. Ingenity- isn't it interesting that defense attorneys have used the McGirk Effect in their defense cases in court?

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  4. Exactly, Dave. Some hear grace. Others hear universalism. Others hear licentiousness (license). We all interpret what we hear through a preexisting paradigm that governs our interpretation of what we're hearing.

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  5. So Christ is what we hear if we're hearing the more salient interpretation of the message. Very interesting! But looks can be deceiving and we must trust God at all times. Great blog Steve! Dave C

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  6. The writer of Hebrews calls the message a sword that divides between soul and spirit. I sincerely believe that the Bible was inspired in such a way as to judge the hearts of men by how they interpret what the word says.

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