Table of contents:
- The Motivated Reasoning Trap and Intellectual Laziness
- Why do we think we are right?
- What, then, can be the solution?
Video: Why do we think we are right?
2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55
Everyone likes to believe that they are rational and reasonable in actions and words. However, he is not always able to clearly and objectively see himself from the outside. Not everyone can accept arguments against themselves and, as practice shows, at such moments we behave irrationally.
Motivated reasoning is the beliefs driven by our desires, fears, and unconscious motivations that shape how we interpret arguments. It is a tendency to adapt reality to what we already know through experience and facts.
The Motivated Reasoning Trap and Intellectual Laziness
In the 1950s, psychologists at Princeton University conducted a study on a group of students from two countries. They played them recordings of arbitral awards during a football match. After watching, students were more likely to accept the referee's decisions as correct when he was wrong in judging their team.
This bias is now affecting every aspect of our lives. Our beliefs depend on what area of life we want to win. If we want to drink a lot of coffee, then we will not accept the research of scientists who prove that coffee is harmful.
In life, we analyze the information received in such a way that our experiences and desires support inner conservatism and stop changes. In this regard, a problem arises, which is that we do not realize that we are not rational at certain moments, and also do not evaluate this or that information objectively. Thus, we contribute to stagnation in the growth of our intellectual abilities.
Why do we think we are right?
- Emotional connection. Emotion is the biggest stimulus that acts on the subconscious, which already shapes our thinking. Therefore, we will deny the evidence of certain things to the last, until we change our thinking or find our arguments.
- Avoiding cognitive dissonance. New experiences always lead us to cognitive dissonance, which arises from the contradiction of our belief system. This experience can create feelings of anxiety. If an opportunity arises to work intellectually and change our beliefs, our subconscious mind begins to struggle with such processes, thereby trying to leave everything as it is.
- Presumption of objectivity. We always think of ourselves as rational people and assume that we are as objective as our ideas. Research conducted at Stanford showed that reminders of rationality and impartiality have a negative effect and encourages denial and resistance to new information. They put us on a defensive reflex and turn off our sanity.
- Cultural satisfaction. We share our experience with other people. Our beliefs and values are divided into groups in society that bind us by common factors, which protect our identity and strengthen our worldview. Ideas that are the opposite of the group's thoughts make us feel bad.
What, then, can be the solution?
When we think about something, then two different systems fall into place. The first system is intuitive, fast and emotional, so it is prone to all kinds of cognitive biases. The second system comes on later, being more reflective, logical and accurate.
This allows us to separate emotion from facts. This leads us to think: “I wish the information about the dangers of coffee was not true, but it is possible that it is. I’m better at researching evidence.”
Motivated reasoning does not allow you to choose this type of analysis. He immediately draws conclusions with haste, which are based on emotions and beliefs. To solve this problem, you need to develop the thinking of the researcher. This extraordinary mindset is open to change and willing to explore new ideas. This mentality is not close to the opposite behavior or the one that tries to contradict thoughts, but we have feelings of interest in it and explore more deeply.
This mentality allows us to realize that our self-worth does not directly depend on how many reasons we may have. This means that in order to be more logical, objective and rational, we do not need to be more logical and rational, but we must learn to separate ourselves from the ego and understand that if we are wrong, it means that we have learned that something new. And this is good.
We must open ourselves to ideas and appreciate them. We shouldn't even assume that some ideas are more relevant just because they come from us. Then and only then can we grow.
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