U.S. so-called "negotiators" are incompetent liars.

[pat_k]

16. Had to look up to remind myself. This bit speaks volumes: "this phenomenon stems from a lack of metacognition"

A couple bits on the relationship between intelligence (or lack thereof) and metacognition (or lack thereof):

Metacognition, is defined as the ability to monitor, evaluate, and regulate one’s own cognitive processes. Often referred to as "thinking about thinking," this skill enables faster learning, better decision-making, improved emotional regulation, and higher adaptability, effectively acting as a "meta-intelligence" that optimizes cognitive resources.

Lack of intelligence is often functionally linked to an absence of metacognition, creating a cycle where individuals cannot recognize, monitor, or correct their own errors in reasoning. Poor metacognition—the inability to "think about thinking"—manifests as an inability to update beliefs based on evidence, lack of awareness regarding knowledge limits, and the Dunning-Kruger Effect, where low-competence individuals overestimate their abilities