In my last post, I argued that common sense was vastly over-rated as a tool for making sound judgments, and that we need to engage in "reasoned sense" that includes both extensive direct experience and critical thinking. Taking steps that include the informal use of the scientific method can help us make better decisions.
However, as recent research has demonstrated, even scientists who adhere to the scientific method can't guarantee they will draw the best possible conclusions. When I read this research my first thought was, "How could such highly-educated and precisely-trained professionals veer off the path of objectivity?" The answer is simple: They, like all of us, possess one quality from which it is impossible to divorce themselves. That quality? Being human.
As the fields of psychology and behavioral economics have demonstrated, homo sapiens is a seemingly irrational species that appears to, more often than not, think and behave in nonsensical rather than commonsensical ways. The reason is that we fall victim to a veritable laundry list of cognitive biases that cause us to engage in distorted, imprecise and incomplete thinking which, not surprisingly, results in "perceptual distortion, inaccurate judgment or illogical interpretation" (thanks Wikipedia), and, by extension, poor and sometimes catastrophic decisions.
Well-known examples of the results of cognitive biases include the Internet, the housing and financial crises of the past decade, truly stupid use of social media by politicians, celebrities and professional athletes, the existence of the $2.5 billion self-help industry, and, well, believing that a change in the controlling party in Washington will somehow change its toxic political culture.
What is interesting is that many of these cognitive biases must have had, at some point in our evolution, adaptive value. These distortions helped us to process information more quickly (e.g., stalking prey in the jungle), meet our most basic needs (e.g., help us find mates) and connect with others (e.g., be a part of a "tribe").
The biases that helped us survive in primitive times when life was much simpler (e.g., life goal: live through the day) and speed of a decision rightfully trumped its absolute accuracy doesn't appear to be quite as adaptive in today's much more complex world. Due to the complicated nature of life these days, correctness of information, thoroughness of processing, precision of interpretation and soundness of judgment are, in most situations today, far more important than the simplest and fastest route to a judgment.
Unfortunately, there is no magic pill that will inoculate us from these cognitive biases. But we can reduce their power over us by understanding these distortions, looking for them in our own thinking and making an effort to counter their influence over us as we draw conclusions, make choices and come to decisions. In other words, just knowing and considering these universal biases (in truth, what most people call common sense is actually common bias) will make us less likely to fall victim to them.
Here are some of the most widespread cognitive biases that contaminate our ability to use common sense:
I could go on and on (for an exhaustive list of cognitive biases, do a search on Wikipedia), but you get the point. If you look at your own thinking, you'll likely find yourself at the mercy of these distortions -- though I may just be suffering from the "false consensus" effect. But I really am sure that we fall for cognitive biases all of the time (I may be guilty of the "overconfidence" effect). In any event, all the research I read supports this post's claims (uh-oh, I think I just fell for the "confirmation" bias).
Note to self: Need to continue to work on resisting cognitive biases.
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Cognitive bias - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cognitive biases potentially affecting judgment of global risks
It just struck me reading this that there's a sort of irony in expecting humans to think in a way we don't generally, perhaps even naturally, do - and call it "rational". All the ways of thinking labeled rational most definitely have a place, an important one, but oh how we've put them on a pedestal, or rather, insisted that they and only they are worthy of respect. It's starting to seem not only unrealistic but willfully so, ignoring or demeaning all the other aspects of our natures ... and that itself is pretty irrational, lol.
The processor for every binary one-zero data particle is emotion.
The filter for all bias, agreement, discernment, retention, rejection, acceptance: emotion.
Emotion's already plotted the course while the brain's struggling into its socks.
Guilty as charged. But every time I try to 'treat' this malady, in my case, a "liberal" bias with a "dose" of O'Reilly or Limbaugh, I have an almost instantaneous adverse reaction comprised of many of the elements of that basic survival mechanism, the 'fight or flight response': tensed muscles, dilated pupils, deeper breathing, faster pulse etc, plus at least a little nausea (not a standard component of fight-flight). Similar but less severe 'symptoms' arise when Palin, Bachman, Cantor etc. are in pontification mode, no matter the media outlet. What do you suggest Doctor? :,)
Any member of the Church of Jobs can probably attest to that.
Me, I'm a member of the Church of Linus and His prophet Richard.
Sometimes real things and one's imagination can cause real motivation.
Doesn't that sound a bit better than a dry scientific study?? LOL
It's just like I have never wanted for a Job as I am Molecular Microbiologist. Yet people still go after degrees in Political Science and end up working at Burger King, English degrees, Acting degrees, and Music, all needed but not in the amount to get a good lasting job. Science and Math win every time, but people still go after those degrees and don't know why they don't have a job!!! At any moment there are 160,000 IT jobs available in the US, Engineers and Medical Professionals always have jobs waiting and yet we have 9.2 percent unemployment. Same with PCs. Failure is a choice!