November 12, 2024 • 35 mins
Curious about the hidden forces driving your decisions? Discover the secrets behind cognitive biases and how these mental shortcuts influence your everyday life. We'll unravel the mysteries of cognitive dissonance and the spotlight effect, exposing how they shape your perceptions and interactions. From the anchoring effect's sway over your judgments to the halo effect's power in creating lasting first impressions, this episode promises to equip you with the tools to recognize and navigate these mind traps effectively.
In our exploration, we bring you a captivating discussion on how your brain plays tricks on you with phenomena like the Zeigarnik effect and the paradox of choice. Learn how the availability heuristic can skew your views and why the Dunning-Kruger effect makes some of us overconfident. We'll also tackle the backfire effect and its role in solidifying beliefs when faced with contradictory evidence. By gaining awareness of these biases, you can become more reflective and make better-informed decisions in your daily life.
Join us on a journey through the psychology of mental biases, where we delve into the challenges of communication and perception. The curse of knowledge complicates teaching, while the negativity bias draws our focus to life's darker moments. Discover how the optimism bias can lead us astray and why the Google effect might be eroding our cognitive fitness. Embrace the power of mindful awareness to navigate these cognitive quirks, enhancing your clarity and intention in decision-making.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back to the Deep Dive.
Today we're tackling somethingpretty fundamental.
It affects every decision youmake, whether you realize it or
not.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Those sneaky mental shortcuts called cognitive
biases.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Oh, this is one of my favorite topics.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
We've got an awesome YouTube video from Escaping
Ordinary breaking down 21 commonthinking errors Wow, 21.
Think of this Deep Dive asgetting a backstage pass to your
own brain.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
We're going to see the machinery that drives our
choices.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
And maybe learn how to tweak it for the better.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
I love that analogy.
It's like it's like becomingaware of the code running in the
background.
Right, so you're not justblindly following instructions.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Exactly so to kick things off, let's talk about a
classic cognitive dissonance.
Okay, cognitive dissonance isthat feeling of mental
discomfort you get when you holdtwo conflicting beliefs.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
It's like that Aesop's fable with the fox and
the sour grapes.
Right, the fox can't reach thegrapes, uh-huh.
So to resolve that mentaltension, he decides they were
sour anyway.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Instead of admitting defeat, he shifts his belief to
feel better about it.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
It's like when you don't get that job you really
wanted.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Right.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
It's easier to tell yourself the company wasn't a
good fit.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Then to face the possibility you weren't the best
candidate.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Yeah.
Or think about people whocriticize wealth but secretly
desire it themselves.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Ooh, interesting.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Talk about a mental tug of war.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
The key takeaway here is that dissonance creates
anxiety.
Yes, and we instinctively tryto reduce that anxiety Right,
even if it means distorting ourperception.
Exactly, it affects everythingfrom our personal relationships
to our views on social issues.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
It's wild how much our brains try to protect our
egos, even if it means bendingreality a little bit.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Absolutely.
Speaking of skewed perceptions,let's move on to the spotlight
effect.
Okay, you know that feeling ofbeing constantly observed and
judged.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Like when you're late for a meeting and convinced
everyone's staring at you.
Oh yeah, or when you trip andspill your coffee in a crowded
place.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
We tend to overestimate how much attention
others are paying to us.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
In reality, people are usually too wrapped up in
their own lives.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Right.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
To notice our every move.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
But understanding.
This can be so freeing.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
It can help you feel less self-conscious in social
situations.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
So that time I completely flubbed my lines in
school play Probably not as manypeople noticed as I thought.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Right Now, buckle up for a sneaky one.
The anchoring effect.
This is where that first pieceof information you get, even if
it's totally random, becomesyour anchor for making judgments
.
Video gives a great example.
Imagine being asked if thetallest redwood tree is taller
or shorter than 1,200 feet.
Even though that number mightbe totally arbitrary, it becomes
(02:43):
your anchor and your subsequentguess about the tree's actual
height will be influenced by it.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
It's like those sales tactics where they show you an
inflated original price to makea discount seem more appealing.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Oh, totally.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Or when a car salesperson starts negotiations
with a high number, anchoringyou to that price point.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
This is happening all the time.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
In stores online, even during salary negotiations.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
The key is to be aware of those anchors and to
set your own whenever possible,exactly so.
Don't be afraid to challengethose initial numbers and come
in with your own realisticassessment.
I like that.
Speaking of how firstimpressions can be deceiving,
let's talk about the halo effect.
Okay, this is where yourinitial impression of someone,
(03:25):
based on just a few traits,creates a halo that can obscure
their other qualities.
The video used the example oftwo people, alan and Ben, with
identical traits.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Interesting.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
But listed in different orders.
Okay, people consistently ratedAlan as more favorable because
his positive traits were listedfirst.
It's amazing how quickly ourminds create narratives.
We form an overall impressionbased on limited information.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Right.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
And that initial halo can color how we see everything
else.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
It's like when you start dating someone new and
they seem perfect, thoserose-colored glasses where even
their flaws seem endearing.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Exactly.
Or think about Bernie Madoff,oh yeah, who had a stellar
reputation.
That halo of success blindedpeople to the warning signs of
his massive Ponzi scheme.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
So, whether it's a new relationship or a business
deal, it's crucial to lookbeyond those surface impressions
.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Don't let that initial sparkle blind you to
potential red flags.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Yeah and remember.
This works both ways.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Oh right.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
A negative first impression can be just as
powerful.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Even if it's based on a misunderstanding or just one
negative trait.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
So those first few minutes of a job interview
really can make or break things.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
It's a good reminder to be mindful of how those first
impressions might beinfluencing your judgments.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Both for yourself, yes, and the people you
encounter.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Now let's flip a coin and explore the gambler's
fallacy.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
This is the belief that past events can influence
the outcome.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Right.
Of random independent events,Like if you flip a coin and get
heads three times in a row, youmight think tails is due next.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
It feels like there should be some cosmic balancing
force at play.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
But the truth is, each coin flip is a completely
independent event.
The coin has no memory.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
I've totally fallen for this one, like when I'm
playing roulette and see astreak of red.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
I start thinking black is bound to come up soon.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Casinos exploit this fallacy all the time.
They even display recent spinsto create that illusion of
predictability.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
But it's not just casinos.
Think about multiple choicetests.
Oh yeah, if you've answered Cfor the last three questions,
you might hesitate to choose Cagain, even though each question
is independent.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Or imagine a judge granting asylum.
If they've approved the lasttwo applications, they might be
subconsciously less likely toapprove the next one, as if they
need to balance their decisions.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
The key is to remember that past outcomes have
zero bearing.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Right.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
On the probability of independent events.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Focus on the probabilities at hand.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Right.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
And don't get caught up in those tempting illusions
of patterns.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Now are you ready for a bias that explains why we
sometimes make those impulsebuys?
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Hit me with it.
I have a feeling I'm verysusceptible to this one.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Well, let's see.
It's called the contrast effectand it highlights how our
perceptions are relative.
Okay, something could seem moreor less appealing, depending on
what it's compared to.
The video uses the example ofthose fancy leather car seats.
If you're already spending$80,000 on a car, an extra
$3,000 for the upgrade mightseem like a drop in the bucket.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
But if you saw those same seats on their own with a
$3,000 price tag, you'd probablythink twice.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
It's all about context.
We judge value based oncomparisons which can lead to
some questionable purchases.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
It's like those walking 10 minutes to save $10.
Scenarios.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
We're more likely to walk for a discount on groceries
than on a $1,000 suit, eventhough it's the same amount of
money saved.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
It's so true.
I've definitely done thatbefore.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
So the next time you're tempted by a deal, take a
step back and consider theabsolute value, not just how it
compares to something else.
That's a good point.
Now let's talk about a biasthat's especially relevant in
today's world Confirmation bias.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
This is our tendency to seek out information that
confirms what we already believe, even if those beliefs are
flawed.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
It's comfortable to stick with what we know.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Right.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
It's easier.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
We're wired to protect our existing beliefs.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
It's like creating an echo chamber online.
Oh yeah, you see the sameopinions repeated over and over.
Right, reinforcing yourviewpoint.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
While shutting out opposing perspectives.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
And with personalized content and social media
algorithms.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Right.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
It's easier than ever to curate a world that caters
to our existing biases.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
That's true.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
This makes it so important to actively seek out
diverse viewpoints.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Right.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
And challenge our own assumptions.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
We need to be willing to think gray, recognizing that
truth is often nuanced andcomplex.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Confirmation.
Bias is a powerful force, butwith conscious effort we can
mitigate its influence.
It's about stepping outside ourcomfort zones and engaging with
ideas that challenge ourbeliefs.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Even if it makes us a little uncomfortable.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Speaking of encountering new ideas, have you
ever heard of theButter-Meinhof phenomenon?
Speaker 2 (08:20):
It sounds kind of familiar, but I can't quite
place it.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
It's that weird experience where you learn about
something new.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
And then suddenly you start seeing it everywhere.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Like when you buy a new car and suddenly notice the
same model all over town.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Or you learn a new word and it starts popping up in
every book you read.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
It feels like the universe is conspiring to make
you notice this thing.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Right.
Our brains are constantlyfiltering and prioritizing
information based on what'srelevant to us at any given
moment.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Now let's shift gears to something that might keep
you up at night.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
The Zeigarnik effect.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Oh, this one rings a bell.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
It's that nagging feeling of unfinished business
right.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Exactly.
It's the tendency to rememberincomplete tasks more vividly
than completed ones.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
It's like our brains are constantly reminding us to
finish what we started.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
I totally get this.
I replay unfinished tasks in myhead, especially before bed.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
It's like my mind won't let me rest until I've
checked everything off my list.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
The fascinating thing is it's not just about
completion Right, it's alsoabout having a plan.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Simply writing down a plan to complete a task can
alleviate that mental burden.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
So those to-do lists aren't just for organization,
they're also a mental healthtool.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
They help externalize those nagging thoughts and give
you a sense of control overyour tasks.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
It's a powerful strategy for reducing stress and
improving focus.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Speaking of feeling overwhelmed, let's dive into the
paradox of choice.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Oh.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
The idea that more options aren't always a good
thing.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Right.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Especially when it comes to decision making.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Interesting.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
The video highlights an experiment where a
supermarket offered 24 types ofjam one day and only six the
next.
People were actually 10 timesmore likely to buy jam when
faced with fewer options.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Too many choices can be paralyzing.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Exactly, it leads to decision fatigue.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Right.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
Analysis, paralysis.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
And less satisfaction with our choices.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
We second guess ourselves, worry about making
the wrong decision and getcaught up in the opportunity
cost of what we might be missingout on.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
I've definitely experienced this with online
dating.
Swiping through endlessprofiles can be exhausting.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
It's like the more choices we have, the harder it
is to commit to one.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
The key takeaway is that limiting our options can
actually lead to betterdecisions.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
And greater satisfaction.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
It's about being intentional with our choices and
focusing on what truly matters.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
So maybe less is more after all.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
We've only scratched the surface of these 21 mind
traps, but it's already clearhow much they influence our
everyday thinking.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Amazing.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Stay tuned for part two of this deep dive.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
We'll explore even more of these fascinating
cognitive biases.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
I'm ready.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
We're just getting started.
Welcome back to the Deep Dive.
We're continuing our journeyinto the fascinating world of
mind traps.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
We've already uncovered some pretty sneaky
biases.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Uh-huh.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
Like how a simple first impression can create a
halo Right that colors ourperception of someone.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
It's powerful.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Or how that nagging feeling of unfinished business,
the Zeigarnik effect, can beeased just by writing down a
plan.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
It really can.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
And who knew that having too many choices could
actually make us less happy?
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Sometimes yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
Today we're diving into even more of these
cognitive quirks Using thatawesome YouTube video from
Escaping Ordinary is our guide.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Okay, sounds good.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Are you ready to see what other mental shortcuts our
brains are taking?
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Absolutely.
Let's jump right in with theavailability heuristic.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
The availability heuristic okay.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
This one's all about how easily we can recall
something, which then influenceshow likely we think it is to
occur.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
So it's kind of like if it's easy to imagine it must
be common.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Right the availability heuristic can make
us overestimate the likelihoodof vivid or memorable events,
while underestimating the risksof less dramatic but potentially
more frequent occurrences.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
So like plane crashes right.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Exactly.
If you just saw a news reportabout a plane crash, you might
suddenly feel anxious aboutflying.
Oh yeah, even thoughstatistically it's still
incredibly safe.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
It's a good reminder to look at the actual data and
statistics.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Rather than relying on gut feelings or anecdotal
evidence.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Absolutely, especially in today's world
where we're bombarded withsensationalized news stories.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Speaking of skewed perceptions, let's talk about
the Dunning-Kruger effect.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Oh, this one's a classic.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Isn't it about people overestimating their abilities?
Speaker 1 (12:55):
The less you know, the more confident you are.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
You nailed it.
It's that cognitive bias wherepeople with low competence in a
particular area tend tooverestimate their skills, while
those with high competenceoften underestimate themselves.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
It's like that saying a little knowledge is a
dangerous thing.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Exactly.
You know just enough to bedangerous, but not enough to
recognize your own limitations.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
I remember in college there's this guy in my
philosophy class.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Who thought he had all the answers.
No, I had a guy in myphilosophy class who thought he
had all the answers.
He'd dominate every discussion,but his arguments were often
shallow and riddled with logicalfallacies.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
He was so confident in his limited knowledge that he
couldn't see the flaws in hisreasoning.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
The Dunning-Kruger effect can be tough to spot in
ourselves.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
It can.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Because it requires a level of self-awareness that's
true that we might not have inthat particular area.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Yeah, it's a good reminder to be open to feedback.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Right.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
To seek out mentors and experts and to continuously
challenge our own assumptions.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
There's always more to learn, no matter how much we
think we know.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
And on the flip side, if you're struggling with
something new, don't be too hardon yourself.
Everyone starts somewhere.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Now get ready for a bias that sounds a bit
paradoxical, it's a backfireeffect.
Backfire effect.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
This is when presenting someone with evidence
that contradicts their beliefsactually strengthens their
original belief.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Oh no.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Even if it's demonstrably false.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
It's like the more you try to reason with someone,
the more entrenched they becomein their position.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
It's incredibly frustrating.
Have you ever experienced this?
Speaker 1 (14:31):
Oh, absolutely.
I remember trying to have aconversation with a relative
about climate change.
I presented scientific data,expert opinions, everything.
But the more evidence I shared,the more resistant they became.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
It's like their beliefs were part of their
identity.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Right.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
And challenging those beliefs felt like a personal
attack.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
The backfire effect highlights how deeply our
beliefs can be intertwined withour sense of self.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
So how do you approach these conversations?
Speaker 1 (15:01):
That's a great question.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
Without triggering the backfire effect.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
It's definitely a delicate balance.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Right.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
The video suggests that directly attacking
someone's beliefs.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Yeah, can make them defensive, yeah, and less
receptive to new information.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
So what do you do?
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Instead, try to find common ground.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
Build rapport Uh-huh and present information in a way
that doesn't feel threatening.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Right.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
It's also crucial to be patient.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
And to understand that changing deeply held
beliefs takes time.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
It's about planting seeds of doubt.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Rather than trying to force a complete shift in
perspective.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
That's a great point.
It's about meeting people wherethey are and nudging them
towards critical thinking ratherthan trying to bulldoze their
existing beliefs.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Yeah, now let's talk about a bias that can lead to
some serious spending regrets.
Oh the sunk cost fallacy.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Oh, I have a feeling I'm very susceptible to this one
.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Isn't it about holding on to something, yeah,
even when it's no longer servingus, just because we've already
invested so much?
Speaker 2 (16:04):
You got it.
It's that tendency to continueinvesting in something.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Time, money, effort.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Based on the resources we've already put in.
Yeah, even if it's no longerrational or beneficial.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
It's like staying in a dead end job Right or a toxic
relationship, just becauseyou've already invested so many
years.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Or continuing to pour money into fixing a car that's
constantly breaking down.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
You feel this need to justify our past investments.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Even if it means throwing good money after bad.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
It's hard to admit we made a mistake Right, or that
things aren't working out theway we hoped.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
I totally get that.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
I've definitely been there.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
The key is to recognize the sunk cost fallacy.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Right.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
And to shift your focus from the past to the
future.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Ask yourself.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
If I were starting from scratch today, would I
still make this decision.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
That's such a powerful question.
It helps detach from theemotional baggage.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
It does.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
And make a more objective assessment.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Now let's move on to a bias that's often used in
marketing.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Okay, the decoy effect, decoy effect this one
sounds intriguing.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
It's a tactic where a third, less appealing option is
introduced to make one of theoriginal options seem more
attractive.
It's like a strategicdistraction to nudge you towards
a specific choice.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Interesting.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
The video gives a great example.
Imagine you're at the movietheater, okay, and there are two
sizes of popcorn small for $5and large for $8.
Many people might choose thesmall, but if they introduce a
medium size for $7.50, suddenlythe large seems like a much
better deal.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
It makes the large popcorn look like a bargain
Right, even though it's stillthe most expensive option.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
It's incredible how easily our perceptions of value
can be manipulated.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
It is, this is happening all the time.
With subscription plans.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Right.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Product bundles, you name it.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Once you're aware of the decoy effect, you can start
to spot it everywhere.
That's true.
Speaking of how things arepresented, let's talk about the
framing effect.
Okay, this one highlights howthe way information is presented
.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Right Framed yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
Can influence our choices.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Uh-huh.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Even if the underlying facts are the same.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
For example, imagine you're told a medical procedure
has a 90% survival rate.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
That sounds pretty reassuring, right?
But if you're told, the sameprocedure has a 10 percent
mortality rate.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
It suddenly feels much riskier.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Even though it's the same information.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
Wow, that's a powerful example.
Just changing a few words cancompletely shift our perspective
.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
The framing effect is used everywhere, from
advertising to politicalcampaigns.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Being aware of it helps you see through the spin
Absolutely and make decisionsbased on the actual facts, not
just how they're presented.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
Now let's explore a bias that can make communication
tricky.
Okay, the curse of knowledge.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Curse of knowledge this one sounds a bit ominous.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
It's about the difficulty of remembering what
it was like not to knowsomething.
Oh yeah, Once we have knowledge, it's hard to imagine what it
was like not to know something.
Once we have knowledge, it'shard to imagine what it was like
before we knew it.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Right.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
Which can make it tough to explain things to
others who don't share thatknowledge.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
It's like trying to teach someone to ride a bike,
right.
It seems so simple to you now,yeah, but you forget how
confusing and challenging it waswhen you were first learning.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
This bias can lead to frustration in teaching,
mentoring and even everydayconversations.
We might overestimate how muchothers know or assume they
understand concepts that areactually quite complex.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
It's a good reminder to be patient, to break down
information into smaller chunksand to check for understanding
along the way.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
It's about putting yourself in the other person's
shoes Right and remembering whatit was like to be a beginner.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
Now let's get a little gloomy with the
negativity bias Right Ourtendency to pay more attention
to, and remember more vividly,negative experiences and
information than positive ones.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
It's like that.
One bad review on Yelp.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
That sticks with you more than all the positive ones.
It's like that one bad reviewon Yelp.
Oh yeah, that sticks with youmore than all the positive ones.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Or dwelling on a critical comment from your boss
Right, even though you'vereceived tons of praise.
Our brains are wired to bevigilant for threats and dangers
.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
So we naturally prioritize negative information.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
It's an evolutionary adaptation that helped us
survive in the past, but intoday's world it can lead to
unnecessary stress and anxiety.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
So how do we combat this negativity bias?
Speaker 2 (20:32):
It's about actively seeking out positive experiences
and information.
It's about savoring the goodmoments, practicing gratitude
and consciously focusing onwhat's going well in our lives.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
It's about choosing to see the glass half full.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Even when it feels like the world is throwing
negativity our way.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
That's a great point.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
It's about being mindful of our mental diet.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Right.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
And making sure we're not over consuming negativity.
Exactly Now, let's explore howour memories can be a bit
selective.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
With the peak end rule the peak end rule.
This one's all about how wetend to judge an experience Okay
, Based on how we felt at itspeak, the most intense moment
and at its end, rather thanconsidering the entire
experience as a whole.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
So it's not about the average level of enjoyment,
right, but those specificmoments, yes, of peak intensity
and the final impression.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
The video uses the example of a vacation.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Oh, okay.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
If you had an amazing meal on the last night of your
trip, even if the rest of thevacation was just average,
you're more likely to rememberthe entire trip favorably.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Interesting.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
Or think about a concert.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
If the last song was a showstopper.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Even if some of the earlier songs weren't as good,
you'll probably walk awayfeeling like the whole concert
was amazing.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
It's fascinating how our memories can be so selective
.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
It's like our brains create a highlight reel of
experiences.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
Right.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Focusing on those peak moments and the ending.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
And this has implications for how we design
experiences.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
Oh, interesting.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Whether it's a product, a service or even
presentation.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
We should aim to create those memorable peak
moments and ensure a positiveending.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
That's a great insight.
Yeah, it's about understandingthe power of those key moments.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Right.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
And using them to shape the overall experience.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Now get ready for a bias that might sound a bit too
optimistic.
Okay, the optimism bias.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Optimism bias Okay.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
This is our tendency to overestimate the likelihood
of positive events happening tous Right, while underestimating
the likelihood of negativeevents.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
It's like thinking it won't happen to me.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Even when the odds are stacked against us.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
We see this all the time.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
People who underestimate their risk of
getting sick Right, having anaccident or even going bankrupt.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
While a certain level of optimism can be beneficial,
yeah.
An excessive optimism bias canlead to risky behavior.
It can and poor planning.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
It's like not saving enough for retirement Right it
can and poor planning.
It's like not saving enough forretirement.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Right.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Because we think we'll always be healthy and
employed, or not takingnecessary precautions?
Yeah, because we believe we'reinvincible.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
It's a good reminder to balance our optimism with a
dose of realism.
It is we need to acknowledgepotential challenges.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Right.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
And plan accordingly.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
It's not about being pessimistic, but about being
prepared.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
It's about finding that sweet spot between hoping
for the best and planning forthe worst.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Now let's dive into a bias that's particularly
relevant in our digital age theGoogle effect, also known as
digital amnesia.
This one's all about how we'reless likely to remember
information that we know we caneasily access online.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
It's like outsourcing our memories to Google.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
We've become so reliant on search engines as an
external memory bank that it canimpact our ability to recall
information on our own.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
I'm definitely guilty of this.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
Me too.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
I used to know so many phone numbers by heart.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
But now I can barely remember my own.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
It makes you wonder how this constant reliance on
technology is affecting ourbrains in the long run.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
It's an area of ongoing research.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
It is.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
But it definitely raises some important questions.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Like, are we losing our ability to retain
information?
Speaker 1 (24:20):
Right.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Are we becoming too dependent on external sources?
Speaker 1 (24:25):
It highlights the importance of engaging in
activities that strengthen ourcognitive abilities, like
reading, learning new skills andhaving meaningful conversations
.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
We shouldn't let our reliance on technology atrophy
our own mental capacities.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
It's about finding a balance between using technology
as a tool and maintaining ourown cognitive fitness.
That's about finding a balance,yes, between using technology
as a tool.
Right and maintaining our owncognitive fitness, that's a
great point.
It's like with any muscle.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
We need to exercise our brains to keep them sharp.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Now let's get a little rebellious with reactance
theory.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Reactance theory.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
This one's about how we react Right when we feel our
freedom or autonomy is beingthreatened.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
We tend to push back against perceived restrictions.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
Even if those restrictions are in our best
interest.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
It's like the forbidden fruit effect.
Okay, the more you tell someonethey can't do something Right,
the more they want to do it.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
We see this all the time with kids.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
But adults are susceptible to it too, right,
(25:46):
think about those limited timeoffer for exclusive access
promotions.
Oh yeah, theory can help us bemore mindful of how we respond
to rules and restrictions.
It can also help us be morepersuasive by framing
suggestions in a way thatempowers rather than restricts.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
That's a great insight.
It's about understanding thepsychology of persuasion Right
and using it ethically.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Now let's talk about a bias that can make it hard to
discern truth from falsehood.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
The illusory truth effect.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
Illusory truth effect .
Illusory truth effect.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
This one's about how repeating a statement, even if
it's false, makes it seem morebelievable over time.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
So if you hear something enough times, you
start to believe it Right, evenif there's no evidence to
support it.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
It's like brainwashing.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
It is a powerful phenomenon.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
And it's often exploited.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
And propaganda and misinformation campaigns.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
The more we're exposed to a claim, the more
familiar it becomes.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
Right.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
And our brains tend to equate familiarity with truth
.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
That's true.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
This makes it crucial to be critical of the
information we consume.
Yes, to check sources Right andto be wary of claims that are
repeated without evidence.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
Just because you hear something, a lot doesn't make
it true.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
Now more than ever, it's important to develop strong
media literacy skills.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Right.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
And to be discerning consumers of information.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
We can't just passively absorb everything we
see and hear.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
Right.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
We need to actively engage with information and
evaluate its credibility.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
Now let's wrap up this part of our deep dive with
the clustering illusion.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
This one's about our tendency to see patterns in
random events, even when no realpattern exists.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
It's like seeing faces in clouds or finding
meaning in coincidences.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
Our brains are wired to seek patterns.
It's how we make sense of theworld.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Our brains are wired to seek patterns.
Uh-huh, it's how we make senseof the world, but sometimes we
see them where they don't existRight, leading to superstitious
beliefs or conspiracy theories.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
I've definitely fallen for this one.
I remember once I flipped acoin 10 times and got heads
eight times in a row.
Oh wow, I started to think thecoin was rigged.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
But statistically it was just a random fluctuation.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
Right, exactly.
Speaker 1 (27:47):
It's a good reminder that randomness is a natural
part of life.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
And to avoid jumping to conclusions Right Based on
perceived patterns.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Just because things happen in a certain sequence
doesn't mean there's a deepermeaning or a hidden hand at play
.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
We've covered so much ground today.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
A lot of information.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
From the availability heuristic to the clustering
illusion.
Yes, and it's clear that ourbrains are constantly taking
these mental shortcuts.
It's incredible how many waysour thinking can be subtly
influenced by these biases.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
It's amazing.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
We've got a few more mind traps to explore in part
three.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
So stay tuned for the final leg of our deep dive.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Sounds good.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
We'll uncover even more fascinating insights.
I'm ready and discuss how wecan use this knowledge to make
more informed decisions.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
Welcome back to our final deep dive into the world
of mind traps.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
We've uncovered so many fascinating biases already,
from the availability heuristicto the clustering illusion.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Yeah, it's amazing.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
It's amazing how these subtle mental shortcuts
can shape our perceptions anddecisions Without us even
realizing it.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
It really is, yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
Today we're using that awesome YouTube video from
Escaping Ordinary to explore thelast few mind traps on our list
and discuss how we can use thisknowledge to become more
mindful thinkers.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
Are you ready to wrap up this mental adventure?
Speaker 1 (29:11):
Absolutely.
Let's jump right in with theauthority bias.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
Authority bias, all right.
This one highlights ourtendency to give more weight to
the opinions and actions ofauthority figures, even when
those opinions might be flawed.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
So like just because someone's in a position of power
doesn't necessarily meanthey're right.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Exactly.
It's like the famous Milgramexperiment, where participants
were willing to administerelectric shocks just because a
person in a lab coat told themto.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
We're conditioned from a young age to respect and
obey authority Right, which canbe beneficial in many situations
, right.
But it can also make us blindto potential problems.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
Or unethical behavior .
Speaker 1 (29:56):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
I've definitely experienced this in the
workplace.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
Uh-huh.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
Sometimes it's hard to speak up or challenge a
decision, even when you knowit's not the best course of
action.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
Especially when it comes from someone in a position
of power.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
So it's almost like we need to be aware of that bias
and be willing to questionauthority.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Absolutely.
The authority bias reminds usto question authority, to think
critically and to trust our ownjudgment, even when it goes
against the grain.
It's not about beingdisrespectful, but about being
discerning and using our ownreasoning abilities.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
That's a great point.
It's about finding that balancebetween respecting authority
and thinking for ourselves.
Now let's talk about a biasthat demonstrates the incredible
power of belief the placeboeffect.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
Oh, the placebo effect.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
I love this one, this is all about how our
expectations and beliefs caninfluence our physical and
mental experiences, even in theabsence of any real treatment.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
Right, like those studies where people report
feeling better after taking asugar pill simply because they
believe it's a real medication.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
Yeah, the power of the mind is incredible, so it's
like our thoughts and beliefscan actually impact our health.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
Yes, the placebo effect shows us the power of the
mind-body connection.
Our thoughts and beliefs canhave a profound impact on our
health and well-being.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
It's almost like, if you believe you can, you're
halfway there.
Exactly, it's almost like ifyou believe you can, you're
halfway there.
Speaker 2 (31:19):
Exactly Our mindset can make a huge difference in
how we experience the world andhow we respond to challenges.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
That's a powerful insight.
It highlights the importance ofcultivating a positive mindset
and harnessing the power ofbelief.
Now let's move on to a biasthat can make us cling to things
a little too tightly theendowment effect.
Endowment effect Okay, thisone's all about how we tend to
overvalue things we own simplybecause we own them.
(31:48):
We place a higher value onsomething once it becomes ours.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
Right right.
Speaker 1 (31:52):
It's like that old coffee mug you never use but
can't bear to part with oh yeah,Because it's been sitting in
your cupboard for years Totally.
Or holding on to clothes thatdon't fit anymore just because
you spent a lot of money on them.
Speaker 2 (32:03):
Yeah, I'm totally guilty of that.
It's like those items becomeinfused with sentimental value,
even if they're not actuallythat useful or valuable.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
So how do we overcome that?
How do we make more rationaldecisions about the things we
own?
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Well, the endowment effect can make us irrational
decision makers, clinging tothings we don't need or
overpricing items we're tryingto sell Right.
It's a good reminder to beobjective about the value of
things, both what we own andwhat we're considering acquiring
.
It's about detaching from thatsense of ownership and making
(32:38):
decisions based on logic andpracticality.
Speaker 1 (32:41):
That's a great point.
It's about separating ouremotions from the equation.
Now for our final mind trap.
We have the hyperbolicdiscounting bias.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
Hyperbolic discounting.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
This one's about our tendency to prefer smaller
immediate rewards over largerdelayed rewards.
We tend to discount the valueof future rewards, even if
they're objectively better.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
Right.
It's like choosing to watch TVnow instead of studying for that
exam next week, even thoughstudying will lead to a better
grade in the long run.
Speaker 1 (33:10):
Or indulging in that delicious dessert today, knowing
it might set us back on ourfitness goals tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
Exactly.
We're wired for instantgratification, which can make it
hard to delay gratification andmake choices that benefit our
future selves.
Speaker 1 (33:24):
It's a constant battle between our present and
future selves.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
Right, it really is, and understanding the hyperbolic
discounting bias can help usmake more mindful choices that
align with our long-term goals.
It's about finding strategiesto bridge that gap between what
we want now and what we know isbest for us in the future.
It's like developing thosemental muscles that allow us to
delay gratification and makechoices that serve our higher
(33:49):
selves.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
So we've reached the end of our deep dive into the
world of mind traps.
What an incredible journey it'sbeen.
Speaker 2 (33:55):
It really has yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
It's amazing how these subtle biases can shape
our thoughts, decisions and evenour perceptions of reality.
Absolutely, it's like we'vebeen given a behind the scenes
tour of our own minds.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
The key takeaway is awareness.
By understanding these mentalshortcuts, we can start to
recognize them in ourselves andothers.
It's not about eliminatingthese biases entirely.
They're a part of what makes ushuman.
Speaker 1 (34:17):
Right.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
It's about understanding their influence
and making conscious choices tomitigate their negative effects.
It's about becoming moremindful thinkers, more aware of
the hidden forces that shape ourperceptions and decisions.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
Exactly, and remember this is an ongoing journey.
The more we learn about thesebiases, the more equipped we are
to navigate the world withgreater clarity and intention.
So here's a final thought toponder.
If our brains are constantlylooking for patterns and meaning
even where they don't exist,what does that tell us about the
(34:51):
stories we create about theworld and the power of our own
perceptions?
Speaker 2 (34:56):
That's a great question.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
That's a great question.
To leave our listeners withThanks for joining us on this
deep dive into the fascinatingworld of mind traps.
We that's a great question.
That's a great question toleave our listeners with Thanks
for joining us on this deep diveinto the fascinating world of
mind traps.
We'll be back next time withanother exploration of
intriguing ideas and insights.
Until then, keep those brainsbuzzing.
Welcome back to the Deep Dive.
Today we're tackling somethingpretty fundamental.
It affects every decision youmake, whether you realize it or
not.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Those sneaky mental shortcuts called cognitive
biases.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Oh, this is one of my favorite topics.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
We've got an awesome YouTube video from Escaping
Ordinary breaking down 21 commonthinking errors Wow, 21.
Think of this Deep Dive asgetting a backstage pass to your
own brain.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
We're going to see the machinery that drives our
choices.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
And maybe learn how to tweak it for the better.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
I love that analogy.
It's like it's like becomingaware of the code running in the
background.
Right, so you're not justblindly following instructions.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Exactly so to kick things off, let's talk about a
classic cognitive dissonance.
Okay, cognitive dissonance isthat feeling of mental
discomfort you get when you holdtwo conflicting beliefs.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
It's like that Aesop's fable with the fox and
the sour grapes.
Right, the fox can't reach thegrapes, uh-huh.
So to resolve that mentaltension, he decides they were
sour anyway.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Instead of admitting defeat, he shifts his belief to
feel better about it.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
It's like when you don't get that job you really
wanted.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Right.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
It's easier to tell yourself the company wasn't a
good fit.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Then to face the possibility you weren't the best
candidate.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Yeah.
Or think about people whocriticize wealth but secretly
desire it themselves.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Ooh, interesting.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Talk about a mental tug of war.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
The key takeaway here is that dissonance creates
anxiety.
Yes, and we instinctively tryto reduce that anxiety Right,
even if it means distorting ourperception.
Exactly, it affects everythingfrom our personal relationships
to our views on social issues.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
It's wild how much our brains try to protect our
egos, even if it means bendingreality a little bit.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Absolutely.
Speaking of skewed perceptions,let's move on to the spotlight
effect.
Okay, you know that feeling ofbeing constantly observed and
judged.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Like when you're late for a meeting and convinced
everyone's staring at you.
Oh yeah, or when you trip andspill your coffee in a crowded
place.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
We tend to overestimate how much attention
others are paying to us.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
In reality, people are usually too wrapped up in
their own lives.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Right.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
To notice our every move.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
But understanding.
This can be so freeing.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
It can help you feel less self-conscious in social
situations.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
So that time I completely flubbed my lines in
school play Probably not as manypeople noticed as I thought.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Right Now, buckle up for a sneaky one.
The anchoring effect.
This is where that first pieceof information you get, even if
it's totally random, becomesyour anchor for making judgments
.
Video gives a great example.
Imagine being asked if thetallest redwood tree is taller
or shorter than 1,200 feet.
Even though that number mightbe totally arbitrary, it becomes
(02:43):
your anchor and your subsequentguess about the tree's actual
height will be influenced by it.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
It's like those sales tactics where they show you an
inflated original price to makea discount seem more appealing.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Oh, totally.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Or when a car salesperson starts negotiations
with a high number, anchoringyou to that price point.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
This is happening all the time.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
In stores online, even during salary negotiations.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
The key is to be aware of those anchors and to
set your own whenever possible,exactly so.
Don't be afraid to challengethose initial numbers and come
in with your own realisticassessment.
I like that.
Speaking of how firstimpressions can be deceiving,
let's talk about the halo effect.
Okay, this is where yourinitial impression of someone,
(03:25):
based on just a few traits,creates a halo that can obscure
their other qualities.
The video used the example oftwo people, alan and Ben, with
identical traits.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Interesting.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
But listed in different orders.
Okay, people consistently ratedAlan as more favorable because
his positive traits were listedfirst.
It's amazing how quickly ourminds create narratives.
We form an overall impressionbased on limited information.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Right.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
And that initial halo can color how we see everything
else.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
It's like when you start dating someone new and
they seem perfect, thoserose-colored glasses where even
their flaws seem endearing.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Exactly.
Or think about Bernie Madoff,oh yeah, who had a stellar
reputation.
That halo of success blindedpeople to the warning signs of
his massive Ponzi scheme.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
So, whether it's a new relationship or a business
deal, it's crucial to lookbeyond those surface impressions
.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Don't let that initial sparkle blind you to
potential red flags.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Yeah and remember.
This works both ways.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Oh right.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
A negative first impression can be just as
powerful.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Even if it's based on a misunderstanding or just one
negative trait.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
So those first few minutes of a job interview
really can make or break things.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
It's a good reminder to be mindful of how those first
impressions might beinfluencing your judgments.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Both for yourself, yes, and the people you
encounter.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Now let's flip a coin and explore the gambler's
fallacy.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
This is the belief that past events can influence
the outcome.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Right.
Of random independent events,Like if you flip a coin and get
heads three times in a row, youmight think tails is due next.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
It feels like there should be some cosmic balancing
force at play.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
But the truth is, each coin flip is a completely
independent event.
The coin has no memory.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
I've totally fallen for this one, like when I'm
playing roulette and see astreak of red.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
I start thinking black is bound to come up soon.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Casinos exploit this fallacy all the time.
They even display recent spinsto create that illusion of
predictability.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
But it's not just casinos.
Think about multiple choicetests.
Oh yeah, if you've answered Cfor the last three questions,
you might hesitate to choose Cagain, even though each question
is independent.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Or imagine a judge granting asylum.
If they've approved the lasttwo applications, they might be
subconsciously less likely toapprove the next one, as if they
need to balance their decisions.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
The key is to remember that past outcomes have
zero bearing.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Right.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
On the probability of independent events.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Focus on the probabilities at hand.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Right.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
And don't get caught up in those tempting illusions
of patterns.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Now are you ready for a bias that explains why we
sometimes make those impulsebuys?
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Hit me with it.
I have a feeling I'm verysusceptible to this one.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Well, let's see.
It's called the contrast effectand it highlights how our
perceptions are relative.
Okay, something could seem moreor less appealing, depending on
what it's compared to.
The video uses the example ofthose fancy leather car seats.
If you're already spending$80,000 on a car, an extra
$3,000 for the upgrade mightseem like a drop in the bucket.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
But if you saw those same seats on their own with a
$3,000 price tag, you'd probablythink twice.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
It's all about context.
We judge value based oncomparisons which can lead to
some questionable purchases.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
It's like those walking 10 minutes to save $10.
Scenarios.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
We're more likely to walk for a discount on groceries
than on a $1,000 suit, eventhough it's the same amount of
money saved.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
It's so true.
I've definitely done thatbefore.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
So the next time you're tempted by a deal, take a
step back and consider theabsolute value, not just how it
compares to something else.
That's a good point.
Now let's talk about a biasthat's especially relevant in
today's world Confirmation bias.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
This is our tendency to seek out information that
confirms what we already believe, even if those beliefs are
flawed.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
It's comfortable to stick with what we know.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Right.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
It's easier.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
We're wired to protect our existing beliefs.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
It's like creating an echo chamber online.
Oh yeah, you see the sameopinions repeated over and over.
Right, reinforcing yourviewpoint.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
While shutting out opposing perspectives.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
And with personalized content and social media
algorithms.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Right.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
It's easier than ever to curate a world that caters
to our existing biases.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
That's true.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
This makes it so important to actively seek out
diverse viewpoints.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Right.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
And challenge our own assumptions.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
We need to be willing to think gray, recognizing that
truth is often nuanced andcomplex.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Confirmation.
Bias is a powerful force, butwith conscious effort we can
mitigate its influence.
It's about stepping outside ourcomfort zones and engaging with
ideas that challenge ourbeliefs.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Even if it makes us a little uncomfortable.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Speaking of encountering new ideas, have you
ever heard of theButter-Meinhof phenomenon?
Speaker 2 (08:20):
It sounds kind of familiar, but I can't quite
place it.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
It's that weird experience where you learn about
something new.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
And then suddenly you start seeing it everywhere.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Like when you buy a new car and suddenly notice the
same model all over town.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Or you learn a new word and it starts popping up in
every book you read.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
It feels like the universe is conspiring to make
you notice this thing.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Right.
Our brains are constantlyfiltering and prioritizing
information based on what'srelevant to us at any given
moment.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Now let's shift gears to something that might keep
you up at night.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
The Zeigarnik effect.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Oh, this one rings a bell.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
It's that nagging feeling of unfinished business
right.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Exactly.
It's the tendency to rememberincomplete tasks more vividly
than completed ones.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
It's like our brains are constantly reminding us to
finish what we started.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
I totally get this.
I replay unfinished tasks in myhead, especially before bed.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
It's like my mind won't let me rest until I've
checked everything off my list.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
The fascinating thing is it's not just about
completion Right, it's alsoabout having a plan.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Simply writing down a plan to complete a task can
alleviate that mental burden.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
So those to-do lists aren't just for organization,
they're also a mental healthtool.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
They help externalize those nagging thoughts and give
you a sense of control overyour tasks.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
It's a powerful strategy for reducing stress and
improving focus.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Speaking of feeling overwhelmed, let's dive into the
paradox of choice.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Oh.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
The idea that more options aren't always a good
thing.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Right.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Especially when it comes to decision making.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Interesting.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
The video highlights an experiment where a
supermarket offered 24 types ofjam one day and only six the
next.
People were actually 10 timesmore likely to buy jam when
faced with fewer options.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Too many choices can be paralyzing.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Exactly, it leads to decision fatigue.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Right.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
Analysis, paralysis.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
And less satisfaction with our choices.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
We second guess ourselves, worry about making
the wrong decision and getcaught up in the opportunity
cost of what we might be missingout on.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
I've definitely experienced this with online
dating.
Swiping through endlessprofiles can be exhausting.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
It's like the more choices we have, the harder it
is to commit to one.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
The key takeaway is that limiting our options can
actually lead to betterdecisions.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
And greater satisfaction.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
It's about being intentional with our choices and
focusing on what truly matters.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
So maybe less is more after all.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
We've only scratched the surface of these 21 mind
traps, but it's already clearhow much they influence our
everyday thinking.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Amazing.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Stay tuned for part two of this deep dive.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
We'll explore even more of these fascinating
cognitive biases.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
I'm ready.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
We're just getting started.
Welcome back to the Deep Dive.
We're continuing our journeyinto the fascinating world of
mind traps.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
We've already uncovered some pretty sneaky
biases.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Uh-huh.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
Like how a simple first impression can create a
halo Right that colors ourperception of someone.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
It's powerful.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Or how that nagging feeling of unfinished business,
the Zeigarnik effect, can beeased just by writing down a
plan.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
It really can.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
And who knew that having too many choices could
actually make us less happy?
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Sometimes yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
Today we're diving into even more of these
cognitive quirks Using thatawesome YouTube video from
Escaping Ordinary is our guide.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Okay, sounds good.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Are you ready to see what other mental shortcuts our
brains are taking?
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Absolutely.
Let's jump right in with theavailability heuristic.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
The availability heuristic okay.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
This one's all about how easily we can recall
something, which then influenceshow likely we think it is to
occur.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
So it's kind of like if it's easy to imagine it must
be common.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Right the availability heuristic can make
us overestimate the likelihoodof vivid or memorable events,
while underestimating the risksof less dramatic but potentially
more frequent occurrences.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
So like plane crashes right.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Exactly.
If you just saw a news reportabout a plane crash, you might
suddenly feel anxious aboutflying.
Oh yeah, even thoughstatistically it's still
incredibly safe.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
It's a good reminder to look at the actual data and
statistics.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Rather than relying on gut feelings or anecdotal
evidence.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Absolutely, especially in today's world
where we're bombarded withsensationalized news stories.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Speaking of skewed perceptions, let's talk about
the Dunning-Kruger effect.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Oh, this one's a classic.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Isn't it about people overestimating their abilities?
Speaker 1 (12:55):
The less you know, the more confident you are.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
You nailed it.
It's that cognitive bias wherepeople with low competence in a
particular area tend tooverestimate their skills, while
those with high competenceoften underestimate themselves.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
It's like that saying a little knowledge is a
dangerous thing.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Exactly.
You know just enough to bedangerous, but not enough to
recognize your own limitations.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
I remember in college there's this guy in my
philosophy class.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Who thought he had all the answers.
No, I had a guy in myphilosophy class who thought he
had all the answers.
He'd dominate every discussion,but his arguments were often
shallow and riddled with logicalfallacies.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
He was so confident in his limited knowledge that he
couldn't see the flaws in hisreasoning.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
The Dunning-Kruger effect can be tough to spot in
ourselves.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
It can.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Because it requires a level of self-awareness that's
true that we might not have inthat particular area.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Yeah, it's a good reminder to be open to feedback.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Right.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
To seek out mentors and experts and to continuously
challenge our own assumptions.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
There's always more to learn, no matter how much we
think we know.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
And on the flip side, if you're struggling with
something new, don't be too hardon yourself.
Everyone starts somewhere.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Now get ready for a bias that sounds a bit
paradoxical, it's a backfireeffect.
Backfire effect.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
This is when presenting someone with evidence
that contradicts their beliefsactually strengthens their
original belief.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Oh no.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Even if it's demonstrably false.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
It's like the more you try to reason with someone,
the more entrenched they becomein their position.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
It's incredibly frustrating.
Have you ever experienced this?
Speaker 1 (14:31):
Oh, absolutely.
I remember trying to have aconversation with a relative
about climate change.
I presented scientific data,expert opinions, everything.
But the more evidence I shared,the more resistant they became.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
It's like their beliefs were part of their
identity.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Right.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
And challenging those beliefs felt like a personal
attack.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
The backfire effect highlights how deeply our
beliefs can be intertwined withour sense of self.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
So how do you approach these conversations?
Speaker 1 (15:01):
That's a great question.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
Without triggering the backfire effect.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
It's definitely a delicate balance.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Right.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
The video suggests that directly attacking
someone's beliefs.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Yeah, can make them defensive, yeah, and less
receptive to new information.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
So what do you do?
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Instead, try to find common ground.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
Build rapport Uh-huh and present information in a way
that doesn't feel threatening.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Right.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
It's also crucial to be patient.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
And to understand that changing deeply held
beliefs takes time.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
It's about planting seeds of doubt.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Rather than trying to force a complete shift in
perspective.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
That's a great point.
It's about meeting people wherethey are and nudging them
towards critical thinking ratherthan trying to bulldoze their
existing beliefs.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Yeah, now let's talk about a bias that can lead to
some serious spending regrets.
Oh the sunk cost fallacy.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Oh, I have a feeling I'm very susceptible to this one
.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Isn't it about holding on to something, yeah,
even when it's no longer servingus, just because we've already
invested so much?
Speaker 2 (16:04):
You got it.
It's that tendency to continueinvesting in something.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Time, money, effort.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Based on the resources we've already put in.
Yeah, even if it's no longerrational or beneficial.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
It's like staying in a dead end job Right or a toxic
relationship, just becauseyou've already invested so many
years.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Or continuing to pour money into fixing a car that's
constantly breaking down.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
You feel this need to justify our past investments.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Even if it means throwing good money after bad.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
It's hard to admit we made a mistake Right, or that
things aren't working out theway we hoped.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
I totally get that.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
I've definitely been there.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
The key is to recognize the sunk cost fallacy.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Right.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
And to shift your focus from the past to the
future.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Ask yourself.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
If I were starting from scratch today, would I
still make this decision.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
That's such a powerful question.
It helps detach from theemotional baggage.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
It does.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
And make a more objective assessment.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Now let's move on to a bias that's often used in
marketing.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Okay, the decoy effect, decoy effect this one
sounds intriguing.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
It's a tactic where a third, less appealing option is
introduced to make one of theoriginal options seem more
attractive.
It's like a strategicdistraction to nudge you towards
a specific choice.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Interesting.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
The video gives a great example.
Imagine you're at the movietheater, okay, and there are two
sizes of popcorn small for $5and large for $8.
Many people might choose thesmall, but if they introduce a
medium size for $7.50, suddenlythe large seems like a much
better deal.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
It makes the large popcorn look like a bargain
Right, even though it's stillthe most expensive option.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
It's incredible how easily our perceptions of value
can be manipulated.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
It is, this is happening all the time.
With subscription plans.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Right.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Product bundles, you name it.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Once you're aware of the decoy effect, you can start
to spot it everywhere.
That's true.
Speaking of how things arepresented, let's talk about the
framing effect.
Okay, this one highlights howthe way information is presented
.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Right Framed yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
Can influence our choices.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Uh-huh.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Even if the underlying facts are the same.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
For example, imagine you're told a medical procedure
has a 90% survival rate.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
That sounds pretty reassuring, right?
But if you're told, the sameprocedure has a 10 percent
mortality rate.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
It suddenly feels much riskier.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Even though it's the same information.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
Wow, that's a powerful example.
Just changing a few words cancompletely shift our perspective
.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
The framing effect is used everywhere, from
advertising to politicalcampaigns.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Being aware of it helps you see through the spin
Absolutely and make decisionsbased on the actual facts, not
just how they're presented.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
Now let's explore a bias that can make communication
tricky.
Okay, the curse of knowledge.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Curse of knowledge this one sounds a bit ominous.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
It's about the difficulty of remembering what
it was like not to knowsomething.
Oh yeah, Once we have knowledge, it's hard to imagine what it
was like not to know something.
Once we have knowledge, it'shard to imagine what it was like
before we knew it.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Right.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
Which can make it tough to explain things to
others who don't share thatknowledge.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
It's like trying to teach someone to ride a bike,
right.
It seems so simple to you now,yeah, but you forget how
confusing and challenging it waswhen you were first learning.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
This bias can lead to frustration in teaching,
mentoring and even everydayconversations.
We might overestimate how muchothers know or assume they
understand concepts that areactually quite complex.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
It's a good reminder to be patient, to break down
information into smaller chunksand to check for understanding
along the way.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
It's about putting yourself in the other person's
shoes Right and remembering whatit was like to be a beginner.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
Now let's get a little gloomy with the
negativity bias Right Ourtendency to pay more attention
to, and remember more vividly,negative experiences and
information than positive ones.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
It's like that.
One bad review on Yelp.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
That sticks with you more than all the positive ones.
It's like that one bad reviewon Yelp.
Oh yeah, that sticks with youmore than all the positive ones.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Or dwelling on a critical comment from your boss
Right, even though you'vereceived tons of praise.
Our brains are wired to bevigilant for threats and dangers
.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
So we naturally prioritize negative information.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
It's an evolutionary adaptation that helped us
survive in the past, but intoday's world it can lead to
unnecessary stress and anxiety.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
So how do we combat this negativity bias?
Speaker 2 (20:32):
It's about actively seeking out positive experiences
and information.
It's about savoring the goodmoments, practicing gratitude
and consciously focusing onwhat's going well in our lives.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
It's about choosing to see the glass half full.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Even when it feels like the world is throwing
negativity our way.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
That's a great point.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
It's about being mindful of our mental diet.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Right.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
And making sure we're not over consuming negativity.
Exactly Now, let's explore howour memories can be a bit
selective.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
With the peak end rule the peak end rule.
This one's all about how wetend to judge an experience Okay
, Based on how we felt at itspeak, the most intense moment
and at its end, rather thanconsidering the entire
experience as a whole.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
So it's not about the average level of enjoyment,
right, but those specificmoments, yes, of peak intensity
and the final impression.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
The video uses the example of a vacation.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Oh, okay.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
If you had an amazing meal on the last night of your
trip, even if the rest of thevacation was just average,
you're more likely to rememberthe entire trip favorably.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Interesting.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
Or think about a concert.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
If the last song was a showstopper.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Even if some of the earlier songs weren't as good,
you'll probably walk awayfeeling like the whole concert
was amazing.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
It's fascinating how our memories can be so selective
.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
It's like our brains create a highlight reel of
experiences.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
Right.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Focusing on those peak moments and the ending.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
And this has implications for how we design
experiences.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
Oh, interesting.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Whether it's a product, a service or even
presentation.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
We should aim to create those memorable peak
moments and ensure a positiveending.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
That's a great insight.
Yeah, it's about understandingthe power of those key moments.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Right.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
And using them to shape the overall experience.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Now get ready for a bias that might sound a bit too
optimistic.
Okay, the optimism bias.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Optimism bias Okay.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
This is our tendency to overestimate the likelihood
of positive events happening tous Right, while underestimating
the likelihood of negativeevents.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
It's like thinking it won't happen to me.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Even when the odds are stacked against us.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
We see this all the time.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
People who underestimate their risk of
getting sick Right, having anaccident or even going bankrupt.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
While a certain level of optimism can be beneficial,
yeah.
An excessive optimism bias canlead to risky behavior.
It can and poor planning.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
It's like not saving enough for retirement Right it
can and poor planning.
It's like not saving enough forretirement.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Right.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Because we think we'll always be healthy and
employed, or not takingnecessary precautions?
Yeah, because we believe we'reinvincible.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
It's a good reminder to balance our optimism with a
dose of realism.
It is we need to acknowledgepotential challenges.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Right.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
And plan accordingly.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
It's not about being pessimistic, but about being
prepared.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
It's about finding that sweet spot between hoping
for the best and planning forthe worst.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Now let's dive into a bias that's particularly
relevant in our digital age theGoogle effect, also known as
digital amnesia.
This one's all about how we'reless likely to remember
information that we know we caneasily access online.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
It's like outsourcing our memories to Google.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
We've become so reliant on search engines as an
external memory bank that it canimpact our ability to recall
information on our own.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
I'm definitely guilty of this.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
Me too.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
I used to know so many phone numbers by heart.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
But now I can barely remember my own.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
It makes you wonder how this constant reliance on
technology is affecting ourbrains in the long run.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
It's an area of ongoing research.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
It is.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
But it definitely raises some important questions.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Like, are we losing our ability to retain
information?
Speaker 1 (24:20):
Right.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Are we becoming too dependent on external sources?
Speaker 1 (24:25):
It highlights the importance of engaging in
activities that strengthen ourcognitive abilities, like
reading, learning new skills andhaving meaningful conversations
.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
We shouldn't let our reliance on technology atrophy
our own mental capacities.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
It's about finding a balance between using technology
as a tool and maintaining ourown cognitive fitness.
That's about finding a balance,yes, between using technology
as a tool.
Right and maintaining our owncognitive fitness, that's a
great point.
It's like with any muscle.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
We need to exercise our brains to keep them sharp.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Now let's get a little rebellious with reactance
theory.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Reactance theory.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
This one's about how we react Right when we feel our
freedom or autonomy is beingthreatened.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
We tend to push back against perceived restrictions.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
Even if those restrictions are in our best
interest.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
It's like the forbidden fruit effect.
Okay, the more you tell someonethey can't do something Right,
the more they want to do it.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
We see this all the time with kids.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
But adults are susceptible to it too, right,
(25:46):
think about those limited timeoffer for exclusive access
promotions.
Oh yeah, theory can help us bemore mindful of how we respond
to rules and restrictions.
It can also help us be morepersuasive by framing
suggestions in a way thatempowers rather than restricts.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
That's a great insight.
It's about understanding thepsychology of persuasion Right
and using it ethically.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Now let's talk about a bias that can make it hard to
discern truth from falsehood.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
The illusory truth effect.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
Illusory truth effect .
Illusory truth effect.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
This one's about how repeating a statement, even if
it's false, makes it seem morebelievable over time.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
So if you hear something enough times, you
start to believe it Right, evenif there's no evidence to
support it.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
It's like brainwashing.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
It is a powerful phenomenon.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
And it's often exploited.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
And propaganda and misinformation campaigns.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
The more we're exposed to a claim, the more
familiar it becomes.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
Right.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
And our brains tend to equate familiarity with truth
.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
That's true.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
This makes it crucial to be critical of the
information we consume.
Yes, to check sources Right andto be wary of claims that are
repeated without evidence.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
Just because you hear something, a lot doesn't make
it true.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
Now more than ever, it's important to develop strong
media literacy skills.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Right.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
And to be discerning consumers of information.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
We can't just passively absorb everything we
see and hear.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
Right.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
We need to actively engage with information and
evaluate its credibility.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
Now let's wrap up this part of our deep dive with
the clustering illusion.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
This one's about our tendency to see patterns in
random events, even when no realpattern exists.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
It's like seeing faces in clouds or finding
meaning in coincidences.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
Our brains are wired to seek patterns.
It's how we make sense of theworld.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Our brains are wired to seek patterns.
Uh-huh, it's how we make senseof the world, but sometimes we
see them where they don't existRight, leading to superstitious
beliefs or conspiracy theories.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
I've definitely fallen for this one.
I remember once I flipped acoin 10 times and got heads
eight times in a row.
Oh wow, I started to think thecoin was rigged.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
But statistically it was just a random fluctuation.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
Right, exactly.
Speaker 1 (27:47):
It's a good reminder that randomness is a natural
part of life.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
And to avoid jumping to conclusions Right Based on
perceived patterns.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Just because things happen in a certain sequence
doesn't mean there's a deepermeaning or a hidden hand at play
.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
We've covered so much ground today.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
A lot of information.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
From the availability heuristic to the clustering
illusion.
Yes, and it's clear that ourbrains are constantly taking
these mental shortcuts.
It's incredible how many waysour thinking can be subtly
influenced by these biases.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
It's amazing.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
We've got a few more mind traps to explore in part
three.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
So stay tuned for the final leg of our deep dive.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Sounds good.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
We'll uncover even more fascinating insights.
I'm ready and discuss how wecan use this knowledge to make
more informed decisions.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
Welcome back to our final deep dive into the world
of mind traps.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
We've uncovered so many fascinating biases already,
from the availability heuristicto the clustering illusion.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Yeah, it's amazing.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
It's amazing how these subtle mental shortcuts
can shape our perceptions anddecisions Without us even
realizing it.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
It really is, yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
Today we're using that awesome YouTube video from
Escaping Ordinary to explore thelast few mind traps on our list
and discuss how we can use thisknowledge to become more
mindful thinkers.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
Are you ready to wrap up this mental adventure?
Speaker 1 (29:11):
Absolutely.
Let's jump right in with theauthority bias.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
Authority bias, all right.
This one highlights ourtendency to give more weight to
the opinions and actions ofauthority figures, even when
those opinions might be flawed.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
So like just because someone's in a position of power
doesn't necessarily meanthey're right.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Exactly.
It's like the famous Milgramexperiment, where participants
were willing to administerelectric shocks just because a
person in a lab coat told themto.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
We're conditioned from a young age to respect and
obey authority Right, which canbe beneficial in many situations
, right.
But it can also make us blindto potential problems.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
Or unethical behavior .
Speaker 1 (29:56):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
I've definitely experienced this in the
workplace.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
Uh-huh.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
Sometimes it's hard to speak up or challenge a
decision, even when you knowit's not the best course of
action.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
Especially when it comes from someone in a position
of power.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
So it's almost like we need to be aware of that bias
and be willing to questionauthority.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Absolutely.
The authority bias reminds usto question authority, to think
critically and to trust our ownjudgment, even when it goes
against the grain.
It's not about beingdisrespectful, but about being
discerning and using our ownreasoning abilities.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
That's a great point.
It's about finding that balancebetween respecting authority
and thinking for ourselves.
Now let's talk about a biasthat demonstrates the incredible
power of belief the placeboeffect.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
Oh, the placebo effect.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
I love this one, this is all about how our
expectations and beliefs caninfluence our physical and
mental experiences, even in theabsence of any real treatment.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
Right, like those studies where people report
feeling better after taking asugar pill simply because they
believe it's a real medication.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
Yeah, the power of the mind is incredible, so it's
like our thoughts and beliefscan actually impact our health.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
Yes, the placebo effect shows us the power of the
mind-body connection.
Our thoughts and beliefs canhave a profound impact on our
health and well-being.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
It's almost like, if you believe you can, you're
halfway there.
Exactly, it's almost like ifyou believe you can, you're
halfway there.
Speaker 2 (31:19):
Exactly Our mindset can make a huge difference in
how we experience the world andhow we respond to challenges.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
That's a powerful insight.
It highlights the importance ofcultivating a positive mindset
and harnessing the power ofbelief.
Now let's move on to a biasthat can make us cling to things
a little too tightly theendowment effect.
Endowment effect Okay, thisone's all about how we tend to
overvalue things we own simplybecause we own them.
(31:48):
We place a higher value onsomething once it becomes ours.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
Right right.
Speaker 1 (31:52):
It's like that old coffee mug you never use but
can't bear to part with oh yeah,Because it's been sitting in
your cupboard for years Totally.
Or holding on to clothes thatdon't fit anymore just because
you spent a lot of money on them.
Speaker 2 (32:03):
Yeah, I'm totally guilty of that.
It's like those items becomeinfused with sentimental value,
even if they're not actuallythat useful or valuable.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
So how do we overcome that?
How do we make more rationaldecisions about the things we
own?
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Well, the endowment effect can make us irrational
decision makers, clinging tothings we don't need or
overpricing items we're tryingto sell Right.
It's a good reminder to beobjective about the value of
things, both what we own andwhat we're considering acquiring
.
It's about detaching from thatsense of ownership and making
(32:38):
decisions based on logic andpracticality.
Speaker 1 (32:41):
That's a great point.
It's about separating ouremotions from the equation.
Now for our final mind trap.
We have the hyperbolicdiscounting bias.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
Hyperbolic discounting.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
This one's about our tendency to prefer smaller
immediate rewards over largerdelayed rewards.
We tend to discount the valueof future rewards, even if
they're objectively better.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
Right.
It's like choosing to watch TVnow instead of studying for that
exam next week, even thoughstudying will lead to a better
grade in the long run.
Speaker 1 (33:10):
Or indulging in that delicious dessert today, knowing
it might set us back on ourfitness goals tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
Exactly.
We're wired for instantgratification, which can make it
hard to delay gratification andmake choices that benefit our
future selves.
Speaker 1 (33:24):
It's a constant battle between our present and
future selves.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
Right, it really is, and understanding the hyperbolic
discounting bias can help usmake more mindful choices that
align with our long-term goals.
It's about finding strategiesto bridge that gap between what
we want now and what we know isbest for us in the future.
It's like developing thosemental muscles that allow us to
delay gratification and makechoices that serve our higher
(33:49):
selves.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
So we've reached the end of our deep dive into the
world of mind traps.
What an incredible journey it'sbeen.
Speaker 2 (33:55):
It really has yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
It's amazing how these subtle biases can shape
our thoughts, decisions and evenour perceptions of reality.
Absolutely, it's like we'vebeen given a behind the scenes
tour of our own minds.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
The key takeaway is awareness.
By understanding these mentalshortcuts, we can start to
recognize them in ourselves andothers.
It's not about eliminatingthese biases entirely.
They're a part of what makes ushuman.
Speaker 1 (34:17):
Right.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
It's about understanding their influence
and making conscious choices tomitigate their negative effects.
It's about becoming moremindful thinkers, more aware of
the hidden forces that shape ourperceptions and decisions.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
Exactly, and remember this is an ongoing journey.
The more we learn about thesebiases, the more equipped we are
to navigate the world withgreater clarity and intention.
So here's a final thought toponder.
If our brains are constantlylooking for patterns and meaning
even where they don't exist,what does that tell us about the
(34:51):
stories we create about theworld and the power of our own
perceptions?
Speaker 2 (34:56):
That's a great question.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
That's a great question.
To leave our listeners withThanks for joining us on this
deep dive into the fascinatingworld of mind traps.
We that's a great question.
That's a great question toleave our listeners with Thanks
for joining us on this deep diveinto the fascinating world of
mind traps.
We'll be back next time withanother exploration of
intriguing ideas and insights.
Until then, keep those brainsbuzzing.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Cardiac Cowboys
The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.