25 thinking mistakes that cause us to make bad decisions

This is harder than it sounds. We have a large, multifunctional brain that can receive and process a huge amount of data. But collecting and analyzing information takes time, and that is just not it. Therefore, the brain has come up with a workaround - cognitive distortions that help to select important information and put it in its place in the palaces of the mind.

We have already talked about which cognitive biases both help and hinder data filtering, and which ones form patterns. Now it's time to talk about the mistakes of thinking that prevent us from making the right decisions.

We overestimate ourselves

cognitive biases: overestimating ourselves

It takes confidence to act. Otherwise, we will not be able to do anything. It doesn't matter that we have no grounds for confidence. The brain will find them and provide them.

Overconfidence effect (Lake Wobegon effect)

It's amazing how, with such a wonderful tool embedded in our brain, so many people are not sure of themselves. But we tend to consider ourselves better than others and believe that everything will be as we need it.

Deviation towards optimism

We tend to overestimate the chances of a positive outcome in any case. Another distortion that many people lack to decide on something interesting.

Forer effect (Barnum effect)

When someone describes us, moreover, as if they tried on purpose, we think that he is right. We believe the description, even if it is vague and does not mean anything. This is how all horoscopes work: it seems like all Aries are energetic and stubborn, and Sagittarius are groovy and persistent.

Illusion of control

When we are interested in some business ending well, this illusion arises: we can control the outcome of the business to a much greater extent than we think.

For example, we are preparing a presentation to persuade an investor to give money. It seems that everything depends on the performance and only we ourselves can influence a person's decision. And he simply has no money - he lost it yesterday. We cannot influence this in any way. The main thing is to always consider this possibility and draw up a contingency plan.

Self-centeredness effect

A person ascribes to himself special merit in achieving the goal (and in fact, his role was less than he thinks). The effect of self-centeredness and the illusion of control give strength, but interfere with the correct analysis of the situation, and this already leads to mistakes.

False consent effect

We project our beliefs, habits and opinions onto other people. After all, it seems that everyone thinks the same way as we do (and whoever thinks differently is somehow wrong and defective). For example, if you believe that computer games are evil, then the word "gamer" will be abusive.

Distortion in character description

It has to do with the effect of false agreement. Other people seem to us simple, understandable, unchanging. Whether we ourselves are: life changes us, we have to grow wiser.

Dunning-Kruger effect

A person who is not versed in any topic will make the wrong decisions. But he will never understand this, because he does not understand the topic: he does not have enough qualifications to notice an error. But a person who knows a lot is more likely to think that he does not know anything.

Risk compensation

We are willing to take risks if we know that we are safe. And if we are in danger, then we give up the risk. Do you want the person to make a risky decision? Let him relax. Do you feel like the salespeople in the store are taking care of them? Tighten up, the wallet is in danger, now they will offer to buy an expensive thing.

We value the present

We are used to making decisions like hunting: now or never. Therefore, the brain filters tasks and considers the circumstances that are here and now to be especially important. Long-term planning or well-documented experience, on the other hand, cannot resist distorted thinking.

Hyperbolic depreciation

We are ready to receive less, but now, and not wait, even if we receive more for waiting. If you offer a candy to eat now or a box of candy to eat at the end of the week, most will take candy.

Chronological snobbery

We love everything new and modern just because it is new and modern. Not necessarily useful, but the word “modern” still works in advertising.

We love the beaten path

If we are faced with a choice of what to do, we give preference to what has already begun. And it helps us achieve our goals, but makes us miss new opportunities.

Loss aversion

The fear of losing something is stronger than the desire to gain something new. If we lose our wallet with money, we will be insanely upset. And if we find exactly the same wallet, then we will only smile at our luck. And we make decisions with the same emotions.

Zero risk preference

We are so reluctant to take risks that if given the choice of eliminating the easy risk entirely or reducing the serious risk, we agree to eliminate the easy risk. But at the same time, a serious risk will remain with us. For example, we are so afraid of dentists that we are ready to postpone routine examinations until a tooth crumbles.

Irrational amplification

Once we have made a decision and started moving towards the goal, it is difficult for us to quit, even if everything is against us. After all, the more effort we have spent on achieving the goal, the more important this goal seems to us. Therefore, we are ready to talk for hours about those grams that we have lost in a week, although no one, except the weights, sees the difference. It is worse when we are ready to convince ourselves of the benefits of a bad result just because of the effort.

In short: the horse is dead - get off.

Disposition effect

We do not get rid of the trash, because we hope that it will come in handy for us. And the longer it lies, the more difficult it is to throw it away or sell it, because so much has been expected. This also applies to securities, which do not rise in price in any way, and to clogged closets, which contain very important things.

Whole Object Preference

We like to do one thing and one time, but to the end, complete the task completely. If we pick up a large plate, fill it with food, and then we will definitely finish it. And the brain does not want to fill a small plate many times.

We are afraid of mistakes

Every action has consequences, our brains have learned this. But some actions lead to irreparable changes. To prevent the worst from happening, the brain has come up with protective mechanisms that should insure us against mistakes. It doesn't always work out.

Deviation towards the status quo

We do not want to change anything, we prefer that everything remains as it is, even if something can be changed for the better. Because of this distortion, there is a comfort zone that is so difficult to get out of.

Justifying the system

This is the previous distortion, only on a large scale. We are ready to protect everything that is around us, even if for this we have to sacrifice our own interests.

Psychological reactivity

If a person is limited in freedom, the brain will rebel and begin to resist the pressure, even if this pressure was for the good. Therefore, in spite of mom, we will freeze our ears, and oranges, to which we are allergic, will become the most delicious fruits in the world. Manipulations are based on this effect.

The same dress code at the entrance to a pretentious club is an example of reverse manipulation: you are not allowed to go there, but if you try, you will get an invitation inside. The brain immediately decides that you must get into this club.

The ambiguity effect

A person prefers to act in such a way that the result of actions is definite and understandable. And we ignore all actions, the outcome of which is more difficult to predict. For example, we love work with a fixed salary, but we do not like work in which we receive a percentage of the profit, even if we can earn many times more.

Decoy effect

This is a marketing effect in which different products are compared, and one of the products was introduced only so that you abandon it in favor of a more expensive one.

For example, there are three TVs participating in the discount offer: small and cheap, medium and expensive, large and expensive. Nobody will buy an average and expensive one, because against its background a large and expensive one looks too attractive, and a small and cheap one is too profitable. This is what the seller wants.

We are lazy

We prefer to perform simple actions, well-developed and understandable, rather than tackling something complex and lengthy, even if it is very important.

Procrastination

We postpone the work as soon as we can, fill the time with any actions, just not to start a big project.

Bias towards information seeking

Before we start anything, we collect information. And again we collect information. And again, even if we no longer need it and it was high time to act.

Rhyme effect

If some statement is built in the form of lines with rhyme, then we will believe it more than an unrhymed one, even if they are the same in meaning. Therefore, proverbs live in memory for so long, and the speech of good speakers sounds like a song.

The law of triviality

The simpler and smaller the question, the more time it takes to discuss it. When at a meeting you find that for half an hour you have not been able to decide what color tableware to buy for a corporate party and where to hang a poster, remember this law and do important things.

Learning all cognitive biases and understanding how they affect life is hardly possible. Probably, it is not worth analyzing why you want to buy exactly that chocolate bar and not another. But when you face a tough decision, re-read this list to understand who is driving your decision: you or the error of thinking. And we will tell you about other methods of self-deception.