True Lies
A new detection model more reliably flags falsehoods
Jack Goncalo always saw himself as a misfit. Growing up in California’s Central Valley, he was surrounded by a religious, sports-obsessed, and mostly white population. By contrast, Goncalo identified as an atheist, sports-loathing Hispanic.
Encouraged by his parents to pursue college, he went to Haas to earn a business degree. But he found most of the subjects boring. That is, until an organizational behavior course and an exercise showing the value of a single opposing viewpoint ignited his passion.
“We did an exercise that showed how misfits and outsiders can help a group think more creatively and make better decisions,” says Goncalo, now a professor at the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “It offered me a positive view of not fitting in. I became fascinated by creative people and the creative process.”
That fascination grew into a 20-year career exploring creativity in all its facets. From revealing biases that affect the evaluation of creative ideas to the psychological consequences of being creative, Goncalo’s research offers insights into human behavior that can help leaders better manage teams and encourage innovation.
In some ways, he’s still an outsider. Rather than focus on popular metrics, such as number of publications, Goncalo has chosen a more personal standard.
“One day I’ll be gone, and my family will read my work. I feel a great sense of responsibility to ensure that it’s rigorous, takes risks, and reveals something important.”
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