Reading behavior on The Traitors and other social deduction games, with Zack Davies

Zack Davies was a standout contestant on the popular reality TV show The Traitors (season 2, UK series). In this talk, we examine psychological factors and behavioral clues that can shape perceptions and decisions in this game. We discuss how friendships and rivalries can affect people’s judgment, and the surprising reasons people trust—or distrust—each other. We talk about behavioral clues; for example, why it is that unusually expressive, exuberant behavior is a clue that someone is a Faithful (i.e., a “good guy”). We talk about strategy, deception, group psychology, unconscious biases, and what his experience reveals about how people make judgments when there’s very little information to go on. Zack shares behind-the-scenes stories from the show, including the intense stress of life in the castle, and a panic attack that never made it to air. Whether you're a fan of The Traitors or simply interested in human behavior, you’ll likely find this episode interesting.

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