Cognitive Biases as Hidden Superpowers

What weird idea do you think is true?

Here's mine: Cognitive biases are hidden superpowers.

The 10 best examples: pic.twitter.com/Eoqe7xkWk6

— George Mack (@george__mack) April 6, 2023

My problem with the term "Cognitive Bias":

1. It's pessimistic - It assumes humans are stupid. Actually, we're the only thing in the universe we're aware of with consciousness

2. It's low agency - It assumes cognitive biases use you. Rather than tools to be used.

Let's go... pic.twitter.com/0V6xWbYQeh

— George Mack (@george__mack) April 6, 2023

1. Planning Fallacy:

Your projects will take 2x the length of time you planned for. You'll always be late.

Reframed: Pick a time frame you'd be happy with. Set the deadline to be 1/2 that. If planning fallacy kicks in, you'll hit the time you were happy with.

— George Mack (@george__mack) April 6, 2023

2. Loss Aversion:

The pain of loss is 2x the pleasure of gain.

Reframed: Bet money with friends on positive habits you want to create. Stack monetary and social pain in your favour.

— George Mack (@george__mack) April 6, 2023

3. Hedonic Treadmill:

You will adapt to the life you dreamed of. It won't make you happy anymore.

Reframed: Visit a hospital ward. A graveyard. A homeless shelter. You will then contrast your beautiful life against it.

— George Mack (@george__mack) April 6, 2023

4. The Spotlight Effect:

Humans are narcissistic. We overestimate how much people are paying attention to us.

Reframed: All the people you are worried about are too busy thinking about themselves to think about you.

— George Mack (@george__mack) April 6, 2023

5. Identity Bias:

People are the victims of their identities. You will deny reality to conform to your identity.

Reframed: Identity publicly as a person with a small identity. Identity bias will cause you to live up to it.

— George Mack (@george__mack) April 6, 2023

6. Mimetic Desire:

Your desires are not your own. You just mimic people around you.

Reframed: Hang around with people whose desires and lifestyles you want to want.

— George Mack (@george__mack) April 6, 2023

7. Filter Bubbles:

Humans create a feedback loop between social media algorithms that limits information to their own biases.

Reframed: Like every single dog photo you. Within 48 hours, your feeds will be flooded with dogs.

— George Mack (@george__mack) April 6, 2023

8. Reciprocity Bias:

The impulse to reciprocate actions others have done towards us.

Reframed: Give to everyone before they do. Don't ask until you've given it 5+ times.

— George Mack (@george__mack) April 6, 2023

9. Confirmation Bias:

Humans look for evidence that supports their beliefs.

Reframe: State the opposite belief for a whole day -- only allow yourself to find evidence for the inverse.

— George Mack (@george__mack) April 6, 2023

10. Availability Bias:

We rely on immediate examples that come to mind while making judgments.

Reframe: Design environments to make positive behaviors constantly available, and negative behaviors unavailable.

— George Mack (@george__mack) April 6, 2023

As @rorysutherland calls this, it's psychological innovation.

You've added no new technology - you've just changed the world by changing the frame. pic.twitter.com/IDvqkFiRaE

— George Mack (@george__mack) April 6, 2023

Marketing 101:

You can describe the same event -- but the language used bends your perception of it:

1. Loneliness vs Solitude

2. Collateral Damage vs Civilian Death

3. Cognitive Bias vs Cognitive Superpower

— George Mack (@george__mack) April 6, 2023

PS. If you enjoyed this, then you should join 25K+ people in my Clouds & Dirt newsletter.

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— George Mack (@george__mack) April 6, 2023