The World's Best Book Summaries
What is omission bias? Why does it occur? Omission bias is the tendency to choose omission (inaction) over commission (action). Omission bias occurs because you feel guilty when your action leads to negative consequences, and less guilty when inaction leads to negative consequences. Keep reading to learn about the psychology behind omission bias and why your brain tends to favor inaction over action.
What is inattentional blindness? Why does this effect occur? Inattentional blindness is a tendency to zone in on certain aspects of a situation and disregard the rest. Inattentional blindness is the result of the brain’s limited cognitive capacity: it simply doesn’t have the resources to process everything. Keep reading to learn about the phenomenon of intentional blindness, why it occurs, and how to combat it.
What is alternative blindness? How does alternative blindness affect decision-making? Alternative blindness is a decision-making bias where you hone in on two options, neglecting alternatives. This bias can manipulate you to follow other people’s plans. It makes Option A seem like your only choice when a different option could actually suit you better. Keep reading to learn about alternative blindness bias, why it happens, and how to overcome it.
What is survivorship bias? Why does it occur? Survivorship bias is where you anticipate a higher chance of success in a project or venture than you actually have of achieving. This happens because success is more widely publicized than failure. Let’s explore the definition of survivorship bias and how not to fall prey to it.
What are some practical ways to study more efficiently? What study habits can help your brain perform better? Authors Barbara Oakley and Terrence Sejnowski explain how neurons work in your brain and how stronger synapses make it easier to recall information. Then they discuss four study habits you can use to promote neuron growth: exercising between study sessions, testing yourself with active recall, practicing spaced repetition, and getting enough sleep. Keep reading for details on how to study efficiently.
What is the planning fallacy? Why do we tend to exaggerate our capabilities when making plans for the future? The planning fallacy is where you underestimate how much time a future task or project will take to complete. According to Rolf Dobelli, the author of The Art of Thinking Clearly, there are two reasons it occurs: self-esteem and life’s unpredictability, Keep reading to learn about the planning fallacy, why it happens, and how to mitigate it.
What is the conjunction fallacy? Why do we tend to discount probability when choosing whether to believe something or not? The conjunction fallacy is the human tendency to prefer a plausible story to a probable one. In other words, when a story makes sense to you, you’re likely to believe it even if the true probability of it occurring is low. Keep reading to learn about the conjunction fallacy.
What is story bias? Why do people remember stories better than facts? Story bias is the tendency to interpret information as part of a story even though the facts don’t actually support the narrative. Stories are easier to remember than other types of information, which is why we rely on them instead of facts. Keep reading to learn about story bias, why it happens, and how to overcome it.
What is cognitive dissonance? How do people resolve the uncomfortable feeling that arises as a result of dissonance between cognitions and actions? In psychology, cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort that occurs as a result of holding two conflicting cognitions (e.g. beliefs, values, or attitudes) or acting in ways that contradict those cognitions. To ease this discomfort, people tend to deny the facts or rationalize their thinking to restore cognitive consonance. Keep reading to learn about the psychology of cognitive dissonance.
What is the affect heuristic? How does the affect heuristic influence decision-making? The affect heuristic is a mental shortcut in which your brain makes rapid subconscious judgments of like or dislike. These “affects” influence your risk-benefit analyses: If your immediate judgment is good, you’ll focus on the benefits of a situation, if the affect is bad, you’ll focus on the risks. Keep reading to learn about the affect heuristic and its implications for decision-making.