Dr. Ellen Langer
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
So we did a study where we have one group try whatever it is, many different tasks.
Another group, they're told to just do it.
The doing group always outperforms it.
And then somebody told me, that's the Yoda study.
I said, oh, yes, okay, great.
I don't have to be the first for any of these things.
It's always nice when other people have the same ideas.
But the point of it is to recognize how often we underestimate ourselves.
You know, that when you're trying, you know, how often we think we can't do it and people have it all wrong.
People think they want to be expert.
Now, if being expert means you're 100% successful, consider this.
You're a little kid.
You're in the elevator.
You're trying to press the button.
You can't reach it.
So the adult with you picks you up.
You press the button.
And this keeps going.
You get taller and even closer and closer to it.
Great fun.