Gel-Man Amnesia Effect

Extracted Attributes

• Namesake

  Murray Gell-Mann

• Coined by

  Michael Crichton

• Core Concept

  Trusting media on unknown topics despite recognizing errors in known areas

• Associated Biases

  Confirmation bias, Selective attention, Compartmentalization

• Related Medication

  Lorazepam (Ativan)

• Alternative Spelling

  Gel-Man Amnesia Effect

Timeline

• Lorazepam is initially patented, later becoming a point of comparison for the amnesia effect. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1963-01-01

• Lorazepam goes on sale in the United States. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1977-01-01

• Howard Wetsman MD publishes the 'Hunt Assumption Amnesia Corollary' to the Gell-Mann effect. (Source: Web Search Results)

  2018-10-13

• Lorazepam is ranked as the 100th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States. (Source: Wikipedia)

  2023-01-01

• The All-In Podcast (Episode 163) discusses the Gel-Man Amnesia Effect in the context of media industry layoffs and eroding trust. (Source: Document ebe1f88d-428a-4f23-a40c-fcfb4a705668)

  2024-01-26

Lorazepam

Lorazepam, sold under the brand name Ativan among others, is a benzodiazepine medication. It is used to treat anxiety (including anxiety disorders), insomnia, severe agitation, active seizures including status epilepticus, alcohol withdrawal, and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. It is also used during surgery to interfere with memory formation, to sedate those who are being mechanically ventilated, and, along with other treatments, for acute coronary syndrome due to cocaine use. It can be given orally (by mouth), transdermally (on the skin via a topical gel or patch), intravenously (injection into a vein), or intramuscularly (injection into a muscle). When given by injection, onset of effects is between one and thirty minutes and effects last for up to a day. Common side effects include weakness, sleepiness, dizziness, decreased alertness, decreased memory formation, low blood pressure, and a decreased effort to breathe. When given intravenously, the person is typically closely monitored. Among those who are depressed, there may be an increased risk of suicide. With long-term use, tolerance may develop, with larger doses required for the same effect. Physical dependence and psychological dependence may also occur. If stopped suddenly after long-term use, benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome may occur. Older people more often develop adverse effects. In this age group, lorazepam is associated with falls and hip fractures. Due to these concerns, lorazepam use is generally recommended for up to four weeks. Lorazepam was initially patented in 1963 and went on sale in the United States in 1977. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. It is available as a generic medication. In 2023, it was the 100th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 6 million prescriptions.

Web Search Results

• Gell-Mann amnesia effect - Wikipedia

  In other projects Wikidata item Appearance From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Cognitive bias on news media The Gell-Mann amnesia effect is a cognitive bias describing the tendency of individuals to critically assess media reports in a domain they are knowledgeable about, yet continue to trust reporting in other areas despite recognizing similar potential inaccuracies. [...] While not formally recognized in psychological literature as a clinically defined effect, the concept has gained traction in critical thinking and media literacy discussions. The Gell-Mann amnesia effect relates to several known cognitive biases: Confirmation bias Selective attention Compartmentalization "Compartmentalization (psychology)") ## References [edit] [...] The Gell-Mann amnesia effect is similar to Erwin Knoll's law of media accuracy, which states: "Everything you read in the newspapers is absolutely true except for the rare story of which you happen to have firsthand knowledge."

• A New Corollary to the Gell-Mann Amnesia Effect

  So, in short, the Gell-Mann Amnesia effect is when experts forget how badly their own subject is treated in media and believe that subjects they don’t know much about are treated more competently by the same media. I had cause to think of a corollary, and like Michael Crichton who named his effect after his more famous friend, I’ll name this corollary the Hunt Assumption Amnesia Corollary. But also, Ben is a ruthless finder of assumptions in anyone’s logic, so he deserves the name. [...] > “Briefly stated, the Gell-Mann Amnesia effect is as follows. You open the newspaper to an article on some subject you know well. In Murray’s case, physics. In mine, show business. You read the article and see the journalist has absolutely no understanding of either the facts or the issues. Often, the article is so wrong it actually presents the story backward — reversing cause and effect. I call these the “wet streets cause rain” stories. Paper’s full of them. > [...] Sitemap Open in app Sign in Search Sign in # A New Corollary to the Gell-Mann Amnesia Effect Howard Wetsman MD 5 min read · Oct 13, 2018 -- I’m grateful to my new friend, Ben Hunt, for pointing out the Gell-Mann Amnesia Effect. Author Michael Crichton coined the term and named it after his physicist friend, Murray Gell-Mann. First, here’s Crichton’s quote explaining the effect:

• Gell-Mann Amnesia - Epsilon Theory

  "Briefly stated, the Gell-Mann Amnesia effect is as follows. You open the newspaper to an article on some subject you know well. In Murray's case, physics. In mine, show business. You read the article and see the journalist has absolutely no understanding of either the facts or the issues. Often, the article is so wrong it actually presents the story backward—reversing cause and effect. I call these the "wet streets cause rain" stories. Paper's full of them. [...] I've written about the Gell-Mann Amnesia effect before, but I wanted to highlight it in a standalone Brief. Why? Because I think it's the primary driver of the social pathology we have today regarding media in general and social media in particular. [...] This commentary is being provided to you as general information only and should not be taken as investment advice. The opinions expressed in these materials represent the personal views of the author(s). It is not investment research or a research recommendation, as it does not constitute substantive research or analysis. Any action that you take as a result of information contained in this document is ultimately your responsibility. Epsilon Theory will not accept liability for any loss or

• Quote by Michael Crichton: “Briefly stated, the Gell-Mann ...

  # “Briefly stated, the Gell-Mann Amnesia effect is as follows. You open the newspaper to an article on some subject you know well. In Murray's case, physics. In mine, show business. You read the article and see the journalist has absolutely no understanding of either the facts or the issues. Often, the article is so wrong it actually presents the story backward—reversing cause and effect. I call these the "wet streets cause rain" stories. Paper's full of them. In any case, you read with [...] exasperation or amusement the multiple errors in a story, and then turn the page to national or international affairs, and read as if the rest of the newspaper was somehow more accurate about Palestine than the baloney you just read. You turn the page, and forget what you know. That is the Gell-Mann Amnesia effect. I'd point out it does not operate in other arenas of life. In ordinary life, if somebody consistently exaggerates or lies to you, you soon discount everything they say. In court, [...] there is the legal doctrine of falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus, which means untruthful in one part, untruthful in all. But when it comes to the media, we believe against evidence that it is probably worth our time to read other parts of the paper. When, in fact, it almost certainly isn't. The only possible explanation for our behavior is amnesia.”

• Gell-Mann Earworms

  > Briefly stated, the Gell-Mann Amnesia effect is as follows. You open the newspaper to an article on some subject you know well. In Murray's case, physics. In mine [Michael Crichton’s], show business. You read the article and see the journalist has absolutely no understanding of either the facts or the issues. Often, the article is so wrong it actually presents the story backward—reversing cause and effect. I call these the "wet streets cause rain" stories. Paper's full of them. > [...] I think most people agree with what I just wrote as they read it, but they don’t feel it day to day: they have Gell-Mann Amnesia. Consider the opposite condition: Gell-Mann Earworms, in which “I can’t trust this” is constantly ringing in your ears as you read anything. (Very much including this blog!) If there were a browser extension that inserted “Based on a true story” at the beginning of every online piece, this might give a feel for having Gell-Mann Earworms. [...] > In any case, you read with exasperation or amusement the multiple errors in a story, and then turn the page to national or international affairs, and read as if the rest of the newspaper was somehow more accurate about Palestine than the baloney you just read. You turn the page, and forget what you know.