3. What is Bias?
In the article "Wiser" by neuropsychiatrist Dilip V. Jeste, he talks about different types of cognitive biases, implicitly referring them as "irrational choices based on common mental errors" (Jeste 147). He mentions common cognitive biases such as loss aversion, confirmation bias, and age, as well as external biases such as socioeconomic status. I found his list of cognitive biases really helpful because in today's society, I feel like we are easily influenced and swayed by things we see in the media or hear from others, and it's good to be aware of different implicit biases that we may have so that we know how they can hinder a wise decision that we need to make. It was also interesting to read this list because it felt like I finally could pinpoint some feelings that Jeste described exactly in his list of biases, which was really shocking but also cool to see a title for different motivations I was feeling. These include loss aversion, being protective of what I already have, and escalation of commitment, just to name a few that I feel most strongly connected to.
The other article I selected is "An Incomplete Growth Manifesto" by Bruce Mau, and is essentially a list of 43 concise, direct, and humorous tips on how to grow as a person. I was quite drawn to the simplicity of the article--more complex is not always better, and I feel like I learned a lot from the quick read this article gave. While at a glance it doesn't seem to be related to bias, I think that the bias this article addresses is the fear bias model, something I learned in psychology about how the risks seem higher when you are afraid of something. Much of the advice that Mau gives is about taking chances, or making mistakes, and deep diving into the unknown, which can be fearful for many people, myself included. Growth and growing can fall into the 'fear' area for people, since it is like a gray area and is unpredictable. The advice he gives is important especially today, where there are so many opportunities that lie ahead of us that we should take advantage of--all I need to do is not be afraid to try for them.
Replies:
Hi []! I find the irony that you experienced with the Jeste article to be pretty eye-opening and just shows how deeply these cognitive biases are ingrained in us without us even knowing. I also like your emphasis on how human nature leads every person to make generalizations and poor choices, because it's important for all of us to be aware of these biases since they affect us every day. I also read "The Incomplete Manifesto For Growth" and I agree with your thoughts on bullet three--Mau puts a new spin on advice that we've probably all heard many times. Your comment about bullet twenty-five made me giggle; I never clean my desk. to each their own!
Hi []! I like the connection you made about cognitive biases and the past elections. Misinformation was definitely rampant (and still is), and I agree with your point that affirmation biases is a strong factor in dividing so many opinions, but also the accessibility of the internet today also creates a bridge between polarized perspectives. We just need to be willing to listen. I also found your remark about historical textbooks to be interesting--it seems so sad that even things we are taught in an institutional setting can be misleading and push harmful stereotypes and biases when their purpose is to teach objective facts to us.
The other article I selected is "An Incomplete Growth Manifesto" by Bruce Mau, and is essentially a list of 43 concise, direct, and humorous tips on how to grow as a person. I was quite drawn to the simplicity of the article--more complex is not always better, and I feel like I learned a lot from the quick read this article gave. While at a glance it doesn't seem to be related to bias, I think that the bias this article addresses is the fear bias model, something I learned in psychology about how the risks seem higher when you are afraid of something. Much of the advice that Mau gives is about taking chances, or making mistakes, and deep diving into the unknown, which can be fearful for many people, myself included. Growth and growing can fall into the 'fear' area for people, since it is like a gray area and is unpredictable. The advice he gives is important especially today, where there are so many opportunities that lie ahead of us that we should take advantage of--all I need to do is not be afraid to try for them.
Replies:
Hi []! I find the irony that you experienced with the Jeste article to be pretty eye-opening and just shows how deeply these cognitive biases are ingrained in us without us even knowing. I also like your emphasis on how human nature leads every person to make generalizations and poor choices, because it's important for all of us to be aware of these biases since they affect us every day. I also read "The Incomplete Manifesto For Growth" and I agree with your thoughts on bullet three--Mau puts a new spin on advice that we've probably all heard many times. Your comment about bullet twenty-five made me giggle; I never clean my desk. to each their own!
Hi []! I like the connection you made about cognitive biases and the past elections. Misinformation was definitely rampant (and still is), and I agree with your point that affirmation biases is a strong factor in dividing so many opinions, but also the accessibility of the internet today also creates a bridge between polarized perspectives. We just need to be willing to listen. I also found your remark about historical textbooks to be interesting--it seems so sad that even things we are taught in an institutional setting can be misleading and push harmful stereotypes and biases when their purpose is to teach objective facts to us.