5 cognitive distortions that killed your determination

The only thing that prevents us to reach the limit of their capabilities - our own thoughts. We are your own worst enemy.

Typically, the process personal growth figuratively represented as a leisurely climb up the stairs, step by step. In fact, it consists of jumps and more like a jumping between floors on a trampoline. In my life such jumps occur due to changes in the way of thinking, I look back and appreciate the whole picture, change my attitude to something. By the way, these moments happen very often, they are spread over time.

To cope with the falls on our brains flow of information and external stimuli, we unconsciously begin to think of templates and use heuristic, intuitive method of solving problems.

Writer Ash Reid (Ash Read) compared heuristics with cycle paths for the mind, which allows it to operate without maneuvering between cars and without the risk of getting hit. Unfortunately, most solutionsWhich, we believe, we accept entirely deliberately, actually unknowingly accepted.

The big problem is that we think in accordance with the heuristic patterns, faced with an important choice. While in this situation, on the contrary, it requires a deep reflection.

The most harmful heuristic patterns - it cognitive distortionsThat prevent us from seeing the path to change. They change our perception of reality and pushing us to the long rise of the stairs, when we need a springboard. We offer you a list of five cognitive distortions that killed your determination. Overcome them - is the first step to change.

1. confirmation bias

Only in an ideal world, all of our thoughts are rational, logical and unbiased. In fact, most of us believes in what he wants to believe.

You can call it stubbornness, but psychologists have another term for this phenomenon - "confirmation bias." This tendency to seek and interpret information in a way to confirm the idea that you close.

Here is an example. In the 60s Dr. Peter Wason (Peter Wason) conducted an experiment in which subjects were shown three numbers and asked to guess the rule known experimenter and explaining the sequence. These were the numbers 2, 4, 6, so the test is often offered to the rule of "each successive number is increased by two." To confirm Typically, they offer their sequence numbers such as 6, 8, 10 or 31, 33, 35. Like all true?

Not really. Only one of the five experimental guessed this rule: three numbers in order of increasing value. Usually Wason students expressed a false idea (just in time to add two), and then conduct a search only in this direction, to obtain evidence to support their hypothesis.

Despite its apparent simplicity, the experiment Wason says a lot about human nature, we tend to seek only information that confirms our beliefs, not the one that denies them.

Confirmation bias is inherent in all, including doctors, politicians, people of creative professions and businesses, even when the cost of failure is particularly high. Instead of asking ourselves what we are doing and why (this is the most important issue), we often fall into the bias and relies too heavily on the initial judgment.

2. anchor effect

The first solution is not always the best, but our mind clings to the initial information, which literally takes possession of us.

anchor effect or binding effect - the tendency is strongly overestimate the first impression (anchoring information) at the time of the decision. This is evident in the evaluation of numerical values: assessment leans towards the initial approximation. Simply put, we are always thinking about something, rather than objectively.

Studies show that the effect of the armature can be explained by anything ranging from why you do not get the desired pay raises (If you initially ask for more, and the final figure will be high, and vice versa), and ending with the question of why you believe the stereotypes about people who see for the first time in my life.

Significantly research psychologists Mussvaylera (Mussweiler) and Straka (Strack), which demonstrated that the effect of consolidation works even in the case of the initially implausible figures. Participants in their experiment, divided into two groups, they were asked to answer the question of how many years it was Mahatma Gandhi, when he died. And first as anchors asked each group follow-up question. The first: "He died nine years, or after?" And the second: "It happened until they reach 140 years or after?". As a result, the first group prepolozhit that Gandhi died at age 50, and the second - in 67 (in fact he died at the age of 87).

Anchor question with the number 9, the first group call made significantly smaller number than the second group, which is repelled by deliberately oversized numbers.

It is crucial to realize the significance of the original information (or at least plausible or not) before making a final decision. After the first information that we learn about something, it will affect the way we treat it in the future.

3. The effect of joining the majority

Selecting the most direct impact on our thinking, even if it contradicts our personal beliefs. This effect is known as the herd instinct. You've heard sayings like "In a strange monastery with its regulations do not go" or "In Rome do as the Roman" - this is precisely the effect of accession.

This distortion can push us to accept not very good decisions (eg, to go to the poor, but a popular movie or eat in a precarious institution). In the worst case it leads to group thinking.

Groupthink - a phenomenon that occurs in a group of people within which conformism or the desire of social harmony leads to the fact that suppressed all alternative views.

As a result, it is isolating itself from the group of external influence. Suddenly, dissent is dangerous, and we begin to be their own censors. And as a result lose their uniqueness and independent thinking.

4. error survivor

we often fall into one more extreme, focusing exclusively on the stories of people who have achieved success. We are inspired by the success of Michael Jordan, not Kveim Brown (Kwame Brown) and Jonathan Bender (Jonathan Bender). We praise Steve Jobs and forget about Gary Kildall (Gary Kildall).

The problem of this effect lies in the fact that we focus on the 0.0001% of successful people, not the majority. This leads to one-sided assessment of the situation.

For example, we may think that being an entrepreneur is easy, because the books of his business produced only by people who have achieved success. But we do not know anything about those who failed. Perhaps that is why become so popular all sorts of online gurus and experts who promise to open "the only way to success." Just remember that the path that worked once will not necessarily lead you to the same result.

5. loss aversion

Once we have made a choice and go on your way, it takes other cognitive distortions. Perhaps the worst of them - the rejection loss, or effect of ownership.

The effect of loss aversion was popularized by psychologists Daniel Kahneman (Daniel Kahneman) and Amos Tversky (Amos Tversky), who found that we prefer to avoid even a small loss rather than to focus on the benefits that can get.

Fear of losing a little is able to keep a person from participating in the game, even if you can win fabulous. Kahneman and Tversky conducted an experiment with the most ordinary mug. People who did not have it, were willing to pay for it about $ 3.30, and those with whom she was to part with it for only $ 7.

Think about how this effect can affect you if you aspiring entrepreneur. Are you afraid to think outside the box because of the fear to lose something? Do outweighs the fear of what you can buy?

So, there is a problem. Where is the solution?

All cognitive distortion common: they occur because of the reluctance to take a step back and look at the whole picture.

We prefer to work with something familiar and do not want to look for miscalculations in their plans. On the positive thinking has its advantages. But when important decisions are made blindly, it is unlikely you will make the best choice possible.

Before making a big decision, make sure that you do not become a victim of cognitive biases. To do this, take a step back and ask yourself:

• Why do you think that you need to do just that?
• Is there a counter in your opinion? They are wealthy?
• Who influenced your beliefs?
• Do you follow other people's opinions because they really believe in it?
• What do you lose if you take this decision? And what will gain?

There are literally hundreds of different cognitive distortions, and without them our brain simply could not function. But, if you do not analyze why you think so, and not otherwise, it is easy to fall into the patterns of thought and forget how to think for themselves.

Personal growth never given easily. It's hard work that needs to dedicate himself to. Do not let your future be affected just because, I do not think - it's easier.