26 Thinking errors, because we do not understand anything

Why should we know about cognitive distortions

Errors must be corrected. And to do this, they need to find. Cognitive distortions cleverly disguised as normal thought processes - no one in the head does not come, that reasoning that something went wrong.

Many cognitive biases. In the "Wikipedia" is a 175 ways to self-deception - a huge figure. Some are somewhat similar, some overlap. Learn and constantly know everything is impossible, but from time to time is useful to view the list of errors, find your favorite and get rid of them.

Why the brain loves to be wrong

Each distortion for some reason you need. They were in the process of development of the brain to help a person adapt to the world, do not get crazy, to save energy and time.

Buster Benson (Buster Benson), coach and blogger, spent a month in order to explore and sort them, and have made the table, cleaned doubles, grouped the major mistakes. He received 20 of sample scenarios in which the brain works.

These scripts solve four main problems:

1. How to cope with information overload.
2. What to do when you do not understand anything.
3. How to act quickly.
4. How important to remember not to store unnecessary.

Today we will look at cognitive distortions that solve the first problem.

The first problem of the brain: Too much information

Every day, the brain digests a bunch of data, starting with how the sun shines brightly, and the last thoughts that crawl into your head before going to bed. In order not to drown in information, we have to choose, what to think and what to ignore. The brain uses several tricks to pull out important information.

We notice the information that already know

Repetition helps to memorize - it usually works, even if we do not learn the information on purpose. Brain conveniently ignore the fact that he already knows. This feature supports multiple distortions.

availability heuristic. We are on any new information sticking labels, based on memories and associations that arise in the memory themselves. This is the logic: if there is something you can remember, so this is important. Well, or at least more important than the fact that it is difficult to remember. What occurs in the memory itself? The fact that you are hooked. What happened with you or with relatives. What you can see, touch, smell. In general, the meager personal experience. It is what we use to understand all the new information.

For example, the familiar specialist went to the capital and well settled there. And it seems that all the residents of the capital occupied by a steep position and get a huge salary.

Error base percentage. We ignore the stats, but pay attention to the particular cases and draw conclusions based on incomplete data. For example, after flu shots you have a cold, then it will be considered harmful. According to statistics, vaccination saves millions of lives, but you do not care: cognitive distortions do not care about the truth.

focus deviation. We notice that what we think. We pay attention to what matters, and if there is something we are not interested, we do not see. Who thinks a lot about clothes and interested in brands, the move will notice a new bag from a colleague, will pay attention to the clothes of others. Who does not celebrate holidays, the forgets to congratulate friends and family - it's just not part of the range of his interests.

The illusion of speed. We begin to see things that are studying and are interested in us recently. For example, you read an article about a healthy way of life and decided to go in for sports, take BZHU. And suddenly it turned out that in each corner there is a fitness center or sports nutrition store. Previously, they were not there? They were, but you did not pay attention to shops and gyms.

The effect of the imaginary truth. The tendency to believe information that is repeated many times. It is well known: if a hundred times to tell the person that he is a pig, on the one hundred and first time he hryuknet.

Imaginary truth actively used for propaganda, it is so convenient to make people believe in something, repeating it many times.

The effect of familiarity with the subject. we choose the one which is already familiar or heard of several objects. And the better we know something, the more we like it. In this distortion of advertising works: we have heard of washing powder, we come to the store and bought it just because it seems better, because of him, we even know something. And over and over again buy this powder, without trying other: what, in fact, we use it for a long time. This distortion saves from rash acts, but remember that the best - the enemy of the good.

context effect. Environment affects the perception of stimuli. Even mental faculties depend on the environment, it is easier to read and memorize the text in a light room and in silence, and not in a stuffy subway. This effect is also used in marketing. If you come to the store and choose the goods in a pleasant atmosphere, you agree to a higher price. A friend of mine was selling the apartment, and before the arrival of customers to bake buns with cinnamon and vanilla. The apartment was filling a pleasant aroma and warmth. As a result, housing was able to sell one and a half times more expensive than the market price, and it is only thanks to the buns.

Without forgetting context. The brain does not know how to search for information by keywords. Sometimes you need to remember something important, but it is impossible. Association required to get the desired information from the memory. For example, the exam did not occur to the definition, but the rustle of pages of notebook paper or odor reminiscent of how you wrote the abstract, as taught by the terms - and here it is, the determination.

Stimulus that helps you remember all serve different stimuli - from sounds and smells to your mood.

Empathy gap. We underestimate the impact of external factors on behavior. Even such mundane as hunger and thirst. Fed the hungry does not understand - literally. When you want someone to yell, maybe you should have a snack or take a nap, not to curse. Therefore, we do not understand other people's actions. We do not know the condition of the person who committed them.

Omission bias. Harmful actions we condemn. And no less harmful omissions - no. "But I did not do anything!" - what's the man to blame? So when you need to act, we stand by and do nothing. It's safer.

We notice only unusual things

Whimsical, funny, bright, catapulting information more visible than the boring and routine. Brain exaggerates the importance of all amazing and passes all the ordinary.

insulation effect. Detached and unusual objects are remembered better than similar. It's like a figure in a series of letters, a joke in a boring lecture, marked packaging on the shelf with the same goods. And if the bright packaging, highlight minimalist. This includes the effect of the image priority: pictures are remembered better than text. And the picture is in the text - even more so.

correlating the effect himself. The stronger the new information to contact us, the easier it is to remember it. If a books similar to our heroHis adventures remain long in the memory.

Effect involvement. We believe that the matter or thing that we have created is more important than the things that others have created. This is our child better than anyone else in the world, our project is the most useful, most of all, our department is working for the good of the company.

Tendency to negativity. We overestimate the value of the negative things. Therefore, it is popular criminal chronicles, so pulls watch a talk show in which the characters are all very bad. And one small drawback is able to erase a lot of positive features. This is the same fly in the ointment, which spoils all and everything. Throughout the wonderful man picks his nose, and we believe this is the yardstick by which to assess the worth even his job.

We notice only changes

We evaluate things and events not by what they are, but because of what happened to them. If there was something good, we believe all the positive event, and vice versa. And when we compare the two things that do not look at their essence, and their differences. Difficult? Look at the example.

anchor effect. The distortion in the evaluation of numerical values. If we introduce the object and specify the number next to it, then we will make a decision based on that number. For example: a charitable foundation sends letters to donate money, any amount, no minimum limit. But in a letter wrote fund "Give at least 100 rubles," and another: "At least 200 rubles." A person who received a second letter, to pay more.

This distortion is used in advertising and in stores when the point discount on merchandise.

contrast effect. Everything is relative. And this comparison depends on our assessment of events. For example, a person is glad that he bought a thing in the store, but no longer enjoy after learns that in a nearby store, the same thing is two times cheaper.

Framing. We react to the event, depending on how it is described, and are able to change the attitude towards the situation. A classic example is the glass half full or a glass half empty. Possible after losing money to say: "We have lost half of the capital", and can be: "We managed to keep half the money." In the first case we lost the second win, although one event.

Conservatism. When we get the new data, which are contrary to the prevailing view of the world, we treat them very slowly. And yet slowly change their views. Information that does not encroach on the old beliefs, we learn faster. BUT all because of laziness: Much easier to overlook the data than to rebuild their views.

money illusion. We estimate the amount of money at par. Million - a lot. Although, if you look, it's not too much, especially if it's a million to a weak currency. We estimate the number, not the real value of money. Their real value is made up of how many products you can buy for that amount.

Biased assessment of the differences. When we consider things individually, we see the differences between them is less than when compared to the same time. Sometimes it is impossible to distinguish between the twins, but when they are there, they will not mix. Or sometimes dinner seems not so bold. Just think, there's just pasta from durum wheat and chop. But compare this dish with salad and chicken breast - immediately see the difference.

We love their beliefs

We love tips that suggest the decisions already taken. We spit on the details, which are contrary to our beliefs.

Confirmation bias and selective perception. We are looking for information that confirms knowledge and position. This is the reason the eternal disputes and irreconcilable hatred. Suppose a person has decided that all its troubles to blame a conspiracy. He finds evidence that everything is just so. Any arguments of opponents turned a deaf ear or say that the opponents are the main conspirators.

The distortion in the perception of choice. First, we do selectionAnd then justify it. First, buy a thing, and then come up with why we need it.

The worse the choice, the more fantasy played out in search of the reasons that justify our actions.

Ostrich effect. And this is the reason that we do not notice the negative information, which speaks about our choice. As a kid: I just do not see you, then you will not see me, I hid.

observer expectancy effect. Our expectations shape our behavior. If we believe that regular jogging can help to lose weight, we are more often than if you do not believe in the success. In the opposite direction it also works if we do not expect to be able to do the job, then we do it somehow.

We notice the mistakes of others

But your do not want to admit it. So before you think that you are surrounded by idiots, look at yourself. Maybe you missed some distortion?

Blind spot. We do not see the cognitive distortions in their own thinking. Meanwhile, they are insidious and they are difficult to find.

Naive realism and naive cynicism. Whom we consider a normal person, a benchmark by which to assess everything and everyone? Of course, themselves. And those who disagree with us, is not right.

What should I do with this information

Read and re-read. Listed here are only those errors that hinder receive the information, and they can be divided into four groups:

1. We do not like the new information.
2. We pay attention only to the unusual, but do not think about the routine.
3. We can not objectively compare objects.
4. We do not notice their mistakes.

Of false information can not draw the correct conclusions, no matter how hard you try. Therefore, these cognitive distortions are so dangerous that we are building a picture of the world that can not work.

If the next time you make a decision, you will remember a few distortions and be able to fix them, you make the right choice. And we'll have more distortion there is in the world.