Let’s take a moment and think about what could happen if the way we think is not right.
How will this affect our everyday life? What impact does this create in the long run
We can all agree that a multitude of scenarios can go wrong in that case.
Now we may think that I’m the kind of person who researches a lot before taking any tiny decision.
Let me tell you this. Even then, there is no way you can be right all the time.
The major culprit behind all this is ‘Confirmation bias’, the mother of all misconceptions.
I’m sure that at least some of us have put out this term ruthlessly in any argument.
We tend to interpret any new information that comes in our way so that it becomes compatible with our existing theories and convictions.
In simple terms, we just simply filter out anything that contradicts our existing views.
I got lost in this bias for a long time, but ultimately I realized my mistake.
I realized that facts are still there, even if I care about it or not.
I thought about a way to escape this trap. I will tell you where I have reached.
I made peace with this bias. The only way I could figure out was to be extremely aware that things might not be plain simple as it seems on the surface.
I started giving more importance to the contradictions that come up when I am damn confident about something.
Murder your darlings
Arthur Quiller-Couch
Let me tell you about the guy who can go wrong even if a lot of thinking is put on the line.
We all consume tremendous information today, actively or inactively.
It can be the Facebook newsfeed, blog platforms, or expert guidance.
Now think that you look for information. There is a higher chance that you choose the ones that are aligned with your beliefs.
You might skip the ones that are in a way disconfirming for you.
Any blog post you read, any content you consume, you interpret the new information in a way to match your theories.
You can try it out yourselves. First, try searching whether Marijuana is bad for health. And then read the top two pages that show up.
Now you’re convinced that Marijuana is bad for someone’s health.
Now try searching whether Marijuana is good for health. And then do the same.
You realize that there will be numerous content out there validating both the aspects.
The search just gives you the information you were looking for, not exactly the facts.
If you just look around, you can see numerous examples of us getting dis-illusioned by confirmation bias.
Astrologers, religious beliefs and most of the self-help operate on this same principle.
The predictions are so vague that you can find shreds of evidence for these prophecies. Other times, they just give you the information that you are looking for.
Let me ask you a question here and you try answering it logically.
There are hundreds of godmen and numerous religions out there. Why could no one predict anything of this COVID-19 sort, if they are the masters of this art?
I’m not here to put a blame on anyone, but to make us aware that there can be gaps in our thinking. And people can sell on these gaps.
It requires a bit of an effort to get out of this bias, especially in this digital age.
The content we mostly consume is tailor-made for an individual.
If I watch a show on Netflix, it suggests similar shows in the future. If I search for anything on google, it gives me associated searches in the future.
We are suggested with similar products we liked before.
In essence, everything we consume is stabilizing our beliefs without even realizing it.
We won’t even see a speck of disconfirming evidence due to this tailor-made algorithms
Things can go wrong if we don’t correct the way we think. Thinking right can take us to the next level as well.
I learned it the hard way.
In conclusion, realize that there can be gaps in our thinking. Being just a bit more self-aware goes a long way.