Why do we always look for a scapegoat and write off any illness to stress

Let's say you have a toothache. In the first place you think of that recently ate too many sweets, and why there was caries. But dental problems caused by other factors: improper dental hygiene (or lack thereof), the structure of the teeth, saliva, the overall condition of the body. Explaining the phenomenon than a single, you fall into the trap of a single cause. We understand why this is happening.

It seems to us that any event has a basic premise

it does not happen in reality. Events affectingThe Emergence of Causation a whole set of reasons. However, we tend to oversimplify: X Factor event was preceded by the Y, then it is his only reason. Although actually in the Y also contributed to the factors A, B and C.

Like other cognitive distortionsTrap only reason simplify our lives. Brain reveals one reason that we can somehow control, and focuses on it. Other factors deemed unimportant or even ignored.

After the failure of the joint initiatives we are looking for a culprit. After some tragedy - a cause that will explain everything. If you feel bad physically or emotionally, we write it off to stress. If you notice health problems, blaming poor diet and begin taking

At each event, a lot of reasons, and the responsibility for the consequences rests with the many people whose decisions have led to a particular conclusion.

The media often reinforce in us this cognitive bias. "? What is the cause of the economic crisis", "What caused the conflict?", "What condition brought success to this company?", "The X causes cancer!" - we hear such statements very often. And they suggest that the events can be explained by one simple phrase.

And it does not allow us to understand the problem

By selecting such a simplistic explanation, we do not analyze the problem completely, not looking for complex solutions. For example, after the shooting of cases journalists schools typically argue that pushed the arrow to his act: the situation in the family, violent computer games, the stress of studies, availability of firearms or something else. While it is likely that several of these reasons put together.

Such thinking leads to various misunderstandings and conflicts, errors in medicineBasic research in HIV vaccinology is hampered by reductionist thinking and educationThe problem of reductionism in educational theory: Complexity, causality, values. For example, many people say that the main reason childhood obesity - fast food. And if children have to prohibit it, the problem will be solved.

But in fact this is only partly explains the situation.

Politicians use this cognitive bias, writing off complicated social problems on taxes and corporations, the rich and the poor, gays and immigrants, believers and atheists. However, society's problems are too complex to be explained in a single cause. The contribution makes a plurality of components and the interaction between them.

But you can fight with a trap

• Remind yourself of this error of thinking. When deciding which led to some event, does not simplify the reasons.
• Make a list of all possible factors. Have one or two of them affected the result of the strong, but that does not mean that they are the only ones.
• When there was something unpleasant, do not rush to blame the incident on someone one. Rate other prerequisites events, think about the situation comprehensively.

Dependence, cancer, mental illness and autism, global warming and the economic crisis - all this is too complex phenomena that in trying to understand them to refer to only one cause. Look wider look for other premises, to make of them the whole picture. And do not forget to remind others about it. Perhaps needless disputes will be a little less.