Even the smartest and most considerate people are prone to thinking errors that force them to act impulsively, illogically, or to their detriment. Because of perceptual distortions, we realize the mistake too late - when the trap has already slammed shut. Let's consider in the article in what ways the brain deceives us.
Trap 1: Ego Depletion
While doing the work we love, we enter a "state of flow." Resources are spent minimally, a person is productive and shows a quick reaction. But to complete complex, routine and uninteresting tasks, we have to make efforts. The problem is that self-control is a limited resource. The more you push yourself, the harder it will be next time.
A person who is busy with difficult work is more likely to choose a cake than a salad. If you give up the cake by an effort of will, it will be much more difficult to show discipline again and force yourself to work on a difficult task. This phenomenon is called ego depletion.
Trap 2. Priming
All words and events that we perceive trigger a chain of associations. This happens hundreds of times a day - involuntarily and without our control. Moreover, associations are triggered at all levels: a word evokes a picture in the head, a picture generates an emotion, an emotion "programs" facial expression. And only after that we outwardly rejoice, grieve, agree with something or categorically reject it.
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For example, people are more likely to vote for higher funding for schools if the vote takes place at the school and not elsewhere.
Trap 3. The illusion of familiarity
It is easier and more pleasant for the brain to find already known information. People tend to choose famous brands - not because they have heard a lot of good things about them, but because, in principle, they have heard about them. In the same way, statements begin to seem true to us if we hear them from many other people (or from one, but very nice interlocutor to us).
Trap 4: Gullibility
This trap stems from the previous one. The brain is looking for confirmation of our subconscious attitudes in the outside world. This way he saves energy, because large resources are needed to refute stereotypes and form new thinking. As a result, you believe a liar who uses the same trusting and affectionate intonations as your father. The brain considers superficial "pleasant" information (timbre of the voice), and leaves the very essence of the message without due attention.
Trap 5. Halo effect
When we like a person, we attribute other good qualities to him. If at first we recognized a person as intelligent and purposeful, then we will evaluate negative traits, such as stubbornness and aggressiveness, from a positive point of view. However, if at first a person is "recommended" to us as aggressive and stubborn, his intelligence and determination will seem more dangerous qualities than positive.
Trap 6: Basic Judgments
The brain makes automatic judgments based on stereotypes. For example, by the behavior and appearance of a person, we instantly assess his danger or safety, poverty or wealth, generosity or stinginess. This mechanism works automatically.
For example: we know that Mark Zuckerberg, as a billionaire, wears plain jeans and T-shirts. But when we meet on the street a young man dressed the same, we would rather think that he is a student, courier or technical worker than a wealthy entrepreneur.
Trap 7: substitution effect
To make a judgment about something, the brain does not care whether it has enough data. If there is little information, subconsciously you will make a substitution of the question for a simpler one.
For example, if an entrepreneur is not sure whether to buy a stock of a Ford company, his brain will suggest another formulation: “Do I like Ford cars?” The decision will be made on the basis of subjective judgment, and the entrepreneur is not even aware of the substitution.
Trap 8: False Memories
The brain distorts the past to make it more logical. As soon as something unexpected happens or we receive new information for us, we change our views, adjust them to the current situation.
For example, after the 2008 crisis hit, many people reassured themselves that they had predicted it, even if it contradicted what they said in the past.