mind traps

“In driver’s training we were taught to identify our visual blind spots and eliminate them with the help of mirrors and sensors. In life (...) we need to learn to recognize our cognitive blind spots and revise our thinking accordingly”

from Think Again by Adam Grant

baja

Rumination is the focused attention on the symptoms of one's mental distress. In 1998, Nolen-Hoeksema proposed the Response Styles Theory .[1][2], which is the most widely used conceptualization model of rumination. However, other theories, have proposed different definitions for rumination. For example, in the Goal Progress Theory , rumination is... See more

Susan Nolen-Hoeksema • Rumination (psychology)

The urge to blame is based . . . on the fear of being blamed

Sheila Heen • Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most

Product framing often takes advantage of the brain’s tendencies to take shortcuts when estimating value Example: A steakhouse offers three steaks of escalating value. The brain will often assume the bottom one is too cheap and the top one is too expensive, ultimately taking the shortcut to the middle option.

framing effect

Utility maximization was first developed by utilitarian philosophers Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. In microeconomics, the utility maximization problem is the problem consumers face: "How should I spend my money in order to maximize my utility?" It is a type of optimal decision problem. It consists of choosing how much of each available good... See more

Jonothan Levin • Utility maximization problem

In The Paradox of Choice, the psychologist Barry Schwartz argues that infinite choice – whether of mutual funds, breakfast cereals or lovers – is exhausting to the human psyche and leads to greater dissatisfaction. When presented with too many choices, we are not only stunned, like a kid in the proverbial candy shop, but also less satisfied with

Mia Levitin • The Future of Seduction

the paradox of choice

A heuristic (/hjʊˈrɪstɪk/; from Ancient Greek εὑρίσκω ( heurískō ) 'method of discovery' [1]) or heuristic technique ( problem solving , mental shortcut , rule of thumb )[2][3][4][5] is any approach to problem solving that employs a pragmatic method that is not fully optimized, perfected, or rationalized, but is nevertheless "good enough" as an app... See more

en.wikipedia.org • Heuristic - Wikipedia

A rational decision-maker would simply ignore the bad options and keep waiting for the neutral-to-good ones. Alas, humans are prone to availability bias, so each additional bad option can go to your head. Instead of waiting, you’ll be tempted to lower your standards.

Cassie Kozyrkov • How I navigated my biggest career transition

cognitive dissonance

Sometimes, knowing the name is good enough. Most cognitive biases work that way. Once you find out what availability bias is, you can figure out where you’ve fallen for it. Noticing availability bias without knowing it is much harder. It’s the same for emotions, ideas, design patterns, and specific situations in life. Having a name helps you... See more

Neil Kakkar • Vocabulary as a Meta Mental Model

availability bias

“Sometimes, knowing the name is good enough.”