30 errors of thinking, because we live on a template

Cognitive distortions - it bugs in our minds, the algorithms that have appeared for a good purpose - to protect the brain from overloading. But it turned out that not all the protection is equally useful. Sometimes these algorithms are triggered where they should not, and we make mistakes.

We already told the error of thinking, because we do not understand anything. They help filter the information and not go crazy with the constant flow of new knowledge. Today, we shall understand in distortions that help us cope with the sad fact that we are not thinking.

The world is huge, man learns all his life and still knows about it very little. We just do not have time to learn all about the world around us. But to live as it is necessary. And our brain draws its own picture of the world as if writing a fantastic book. Inside it we exist.

Sometimes the picture is very different from reality. To function properly, it is necessary to go beyond the canvas.

We will understand what mechanisms it is hampered.

We see the logic where it does not exist

We make up the world as a mosaic. The faster it is formed, so it is easier. So sometimes we add a pattern on your own.

Anthropomorphism

We attribute groups of people, animals and even natural phenomena properties of man. And then I think that they really can behave like humans. Remember, in the tales of heroes are constantly communicated with the wind, the sun, gray wolves? In some form, we will not get rid of this mythical perception.

pareidolia

This visual illusion when random conglomeration of lines, dots and shapes we see some completed object. When out of the darkness under the bed for you "get out" the monster, and the lunar landscape formed in the shape of hare - this is pareidolia.

clustering illusion

We find patterns where there are none. "I have twice put in for an interview this sweater, twice received an invitation to work. A third interview put on the shirt, it was bad. So sweater happy. " Not really.

illusory correlation

It is also about the search for non-existent laws. We can easily notice the things that stand out among others: pictures in the text, color posters on the gray walls, a tall man among stunted. But that is not enough.

If we notice two outstanding things, we will try to find a connection and find, even if it does not exist between them.

Distortion works when we make the view of the people, especially for foreigners. For example, we meet a resident of New Zealand, which in itself is unusual. It turns out that he is manic loves coffee. Our brain decides that he's a fan of coffee, because of New Zealand.

The underestimation of the sample size

This distortion, which shows that we did not know how to handle the statistics. Statistical data work well with large samples, but with little - badly. But we can not appreciate and look forward to that, the same principles as large in small groups.

It works in the opposite direction. For example, a poor student threw two girls for wealthy men. The student decides that all women are materialistic and think only about money. And mistaken for life.

Error sufficient reason

This distortion is due to the inability to think logically. There is a law: if one object is a property of A, and the second object is no such property, these items are not the same. For example, there are bicycle pedals, while the scooter is not. So, not a scooter bike. It is logical? Exactly as long as we know about all subjects. But if our knowledge is not enough, the law gives fail.

For example, someone stole my money. I know that the thief - criminal. And I know that my friend Sasha is not a criminal. So, Sasha did not steal my money. So I am very surprised when the police find stolen Sasha home.

Player error

It seems to us that the chain of random events affect the next event. If the coin falls tails up five times, then on the sixth once will surely be an eagle. In fact, the probability of an eagle - 50%. The same as that was when a coin was thrown for the first time.

the effect of novelty

We think that the recent events affect the world more than those that occurred long ago. For example, on Monday you went to the pool, in the gym on Tuesday, on Wednesday became ill. You are likely to decide that the infection was picked up at the gym, even though they could catch her in the pool.

We think the pattern

Our brain can not stand the suspense. We should all know and understand everything. Therefore, any new information is urgently needed to ram in the system, which we are accustomed. And if the information is contrary to our beliefs, we easily come up with this any explanation, and no one will never be persuaded us.

Fundamental attribution error

When we think of others, we explain their actions are personal qualities. For example, why a colleague shouted at me? Because he is a goat. And when we think about ourselves, then we explain the behavior of external factors. Why do I have yelled at his colleague? Because he is a goat.

Consequence - the group attribution error. We attribute the properties of the whole group to each of its representative, and vice versa. Remember the New Zealander, who loved coffee? We think that all New Zealanders love the coffee.

stereotyping

Get rid of attribution error is so difficult that every New Zealander we ask, why is it suddenly does not like coffee? We know they're all coffee drinkers.

functional fixedness

If we know how to use the subject, then use it or we can not. What can you do with an empty aluminum cans? Crush and discard. Or constructed from it burner. When we are overcoming this distortion, the true beginning creative.

moral credibility effect

Effect associated with reputation. If a person has long been a model in some ways, make the right decisions, it is perceived as a matter of course. And the man himself begins to believe that his decisions are good only because it is he took them.

Belief in a Just World

We believe that all the villains get what they deserve, and the truth ever wins, people will treat us as we are to them, and all offenders will be punished by karma / God / the universe / Pasta Monster. This distortion of the causal link, which we treat so that we were calm and pleasant to live.

submission to authority

We tend to do what we are told to bosses, the government and people in general higher, and follow orders, even if they disagree with them.

Templates control us

We so love the patterns that create them almost instantly, and revise not even going.

halo effect

Overall impression of the human impact on everything that we think about it. Beautiful people seem to be more intelligent, neat - professional. So fall in love at first sight, and then ask, where were the brains.

The distortion in the evaluation of the uniformity of the other group

People whom we do not consider "their", seem to us to be more equal than they are. Hence the joke about how Koreans are checked one by one passport.

Distortion in favor of the group

People whom we consider "their", seem to us better than others. This works on a large scale (urban are not like our people having fun), and small.

We can give up other people's inventions and achievements only because they are strangers.

effect cheerleaders

If a person is inside the group, in which all are somewhat similar, it looks more attractive. we wrote detail the effect of it and how to use it.

depreciation opinions

We can not perceive the information separately from the person who presents it. And if something says "his" people, we perceive the proposal as sensible, and if the "foreign", then looking in it shortcomings.

"Let's decorate the office for the holiday!" - says a colleague. If this is a designer who has authority, it is a great idea. And if this is newbie protection card, which no one knows, it is quite useless to waste time on such nonsense.

We can not assume

The subconscious mind does not like numbers, it likes to have everything "by eye" and "about." Therefore, we round and simplify any numerical values.

negation of the probability

Probability theory, our brain does not know at all. So when you need to make a decision, and knowledge is not enough, small risks are either ignored altogether or revalued. This effect is built all terrorist actions. We have a much better chance to get under the car, when we go to work than to suffer from the explosion in the subway. But the explosion - an event that strongly affects the emotion, and here we are afraid to go to a concert, but are not afraid to cross the road in the wrong place.

Another example: the population was warned of an impending hurricane, but the majority did nothing to prepare for it. The man who never got in an emergency, can not imagine it, so it ignores the likelihood.

error survivor

If a person is able to to survive in an accident, he will think that survived, because everything is done correctly, though his fate could affect hundreds of factors, and many people who have acted in the same way as he died.

effect denomination

We hardly spend a large sum of money for a single purchase, but easily descend the same amount into several smaller ones. Just can not imagine that the mass of small bills folded in the embezzlement. This is one reason why it is necessary to conduct a financial blog.

We think that everything about everybody know

The only person about whom you can at least something to say for sure - it's you. But we live among people, so we have to somehow explain their actions. Therefore, we constantly attribute to others their thoughts and wait for them to own behavior.

knowledge of the curse

If a person is well versed in a certain subject, he thinks that others know as much. He was not able to look at the problem through the eyes of ill-informed person. Therefore, some teachers are able to explain the topic, while others - no, someone writes a great technical job, but someone is indignant that these performers again all confused and do not understand anything.

The illusion of transparency

We overestimate their own ability to understand other people and think that others know a lot about us. "I was watching everything! They know that I am ill prepared! That one who rubs his hands, I know he will fill me now! "

spotlight effect

We overestimate the attention to his own person. Since we set for ourselves is always the most important, it seems to us that other people constantly think of us or pay attention to our actions, as if we were actors in the spotlight. In fact, around us do not care much, they are busy.

We believe that the feelings do not change

We project all the knowledge and beliefs of the past and the future, as though all that we know now, it was known before, but nothing will change with time.

know-all effect

Every time we say "I knew it," we are at the mercy of such an effect. We think that whatever happened, it was possible to predict in advance. In fact, it has become possible only now, when everything has already happened.

The effect of the end of history

We know that much has changed. Every year something added to the experience, the event left no trace in the memory. But we are confident that in the future this will not happen, and we will remain as it is now.

The deviation in the direction of the result

We judge decisions not by how they were justified at the time of adoption, but by what the results of these decisions resulted.

Kolya and Bob went to the gym, but Kolya's all right, and Bob dropped a weight on his leg and now walks in a cast. Bob thinks that the exercise was a bad idea and should have stayed home.

Embellishment last

We look at the past from the perspective of the present. And things seem bad, horrible, disgusting, are not as horrible. "And I have been, and nothing, I live."

Revaluation effects

We believe that future developments too much will change our lives and cause a flood of emotions. Especially we suffer greatly before the important stages: exams, interviews. It will take several days, and no matter how we were afraid to advance, it will remain in the past.

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Think about how your brain deceives itself and will drive in the frame. Maybe next time you'll have to look at the situation from the other side and unlock the creative potential that you are away from you did not expect.

And we will tell about other types of cognitive biases.