The World's Best Book Summaries
What is ambiguity aversion bias? Why do people go to such great lengths to avoid ambiguity? Ambiguity aversion bias is the root of the adage “better the devil you know.” Even if the situation is bad, you’d rather stay than face the uncertainty of leaving. Here’s why we go to such great lengths to avoid uncertainty.
What is the authority fallacy? Why do we do what the higher-ups say? The authority fallacy is a logical bias related to social proof. It is the natural inclination to listen to an authority figure, even if they’re trying to make you do something you normally wouldn’t. Keep reading to learn about authority bias, why it happens, and how to overcome it.
What is pathos? How can you use pathos to strengthen a persuasive argument? In a persuasive argument, pathos is when you appeal to your audience’s emotions to make them feel a certain way about your cause. The best way to do this is to tell a vivid story. Here’s how to use pathos to persuade an audience.
What is Eric Berne’s transactional analysis theory? What was Berne’s goal in developing his theory? In his book Games People Play, Eric Berne explains his approach to understanding social interaction: Transactional Analysis. Berne’s goal wasn’t just to analyze human interactions, but to discover destructive patterns so people can realize what games they’re playing (intentional or not) and improve their relationships with others. Let’s take a look at the key tenets of Berne’s theory.
Have you ever struggled to make a decision because there were too many options to choose from? How does having too many options impair decision-making? Most people think that having more options to choose from is better than having fewer. However, having too many options can be just as bad as not having enough of them. Here’s how having too many options causes paralysis of choice and impairs decision-making.
What is action bias? Is being action-oriented a good thing? Action bias is the tendency to take action rather than waiting for a better opportunity or more information. While the bias towards action is better than procrastination, it may lead to hasty and reckless decisions. Here’s why bias towards action can sometimes do more harm than good.
What exactly is meant by the term “pseudo-profound bullsh*t”? Why do people find it so difficult to admit their ignorance? Pseudo-profound bullsh*t is a class of long-winded assertions that sound profound yet are meaningless. In his book The Art of Thinking Clearly, Rolf Dobelli calls it the “twaddle tendency” and attributes it to group membership. Keep reading to learn about the phenomenon of pseudo-profound bullsh*t.
What is social programming? Where does social programming stem from? In his book Games People Play, Dr. Eric Berne says that people play different kinds of social games depending on their social programming. This programming can come from multiple sources including culture and genetics. Here’s how social programming drives social interactions.
Why do people make bad decisions? How do you make a decision when there are just too many variables to consider? Many times, you make bad decisions because you don’t have enough options, information, or experience to make logical ones. However, too many options, information, or experience can also inspire irrational decisions. Let’s take a look at the three situations where excess causes irrationality: 1) too much experience, 2) too many options, and 3) too much information.
What is loss aversion? Why does losing something have a stronger psychological impact compared to gaining something? As the name suggests, loss aversion is the tendency to have a stronger aversion to losing something compared to gaining something. Loss aversion is an evolutionary trait passed on from early humanity when losing something—be it belongings, weapons, or food supply—was often fatal. Being cautious and avoiding loss kept early humans alive and able to procreate, meaning their cautious genes survived to the current day. Keep reading to learn about the psychology of loss aversion.