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25 cognitive biases Elon Musk thinks every kid should learn:
Elon Musk tweeted about 50 cognitive biases every kid should learn.
It’s a phenomenal list!
But the infographic (see below) is hard to read.
If you’re like me, you want a resource like this in a searchable form—for Notion, Evernote, etc.
So I’ve created just that.
It’s a phenomenal list!
But the infographic (see below) is hard to read.
If you’re like me, you want a resource like this in a searchable form—for Notion, Evernote, etc.
So I’ve created just that.
For learning purposes, I’ve re-summarized the 50 cognitive biases Musk recommends to learn.
It seemed overwhelming for you to read all 50 in one thread,
so I’ve split them into a two-part series.
Today I’ll share the first 25, tomorrow the second half.
It seemed overwhelming for you to read all 50 in one thread,
so I’ve split them into a two-part series.
Today I’ll share the first 25, tomorrow the second half.
First, a quick note about cognitive biases.
What are they?
Why is knowing about them crucial?
All humans make systematic errors in thinking—hurting our judgment.
Being aware of cognitive biases will make you less susceptible to them.
Let’s get started.
What are they?
Why is knowing about them crucial?
All humans make systematic errors in thinking—hurting our judgment.
Being aware of cognitive biases will make you less susceptible to them.
Let’s get started.
Fundamental Attribution Error
We judge everyone else on character but blame our shortcomings on the situation.
Example: If Jane is late for work, she’s lazy. If you’re late for work, it’s because of traffic.
We judge everyone else on character but blame our shortcomings on the situation.
Example: If Jane is late for work, she’s lazy. If you’re late for work, it’s because of traffic.
Self-Serving Bias
We chalk failures up to the situation while taking all the credit for our successes.
Example: You earned that A through hard work & skill. Meanwhile, you got a poor grade because of external factors: bad professor, team assignment, etc.
We chalk failures up to the situation while taking all the credit for our successes.
Example: You earned that A through hard work & skill. Meanwhile, you got a poor grade because of external factors: bad professor, team assignment, etc.
Ingroup Favoritism
We privilege those in our ingroup over those in an outgroup.
Example: Jackie works in your division, so you value her more than John, who works over in accounting.
We privilege those in our ingroup over those in an outgroup.
Example: Jackie works in your division, so you value her more than John, who works over in accounting.
Bandwagon Effect
Concepts, trends, and beliefs catch on as more people validate them.
Example: Jill believes buying an LV bag will make her look chic. Janet does, too.
Concepts, trends, and beliefs catch on as more people validate them.
Example: Jill believes buying an LV bag will make her look chic. Janet does, too.
Groupthink
We make irrational decisions just to avoid conflict.
Example: Jackie wants to go bowling. Joe wants to buy a cake for a dinner party. You suggest getting a cake in the shape of a bowling ball.
We make irrational decisions just to avoid conflict.
Example: Jackie wants to go bowling. Joe wants to buy a cake for a dinner party. You suggest getting a cake in the shape of a bowling ball.
Halo Effect
Focusing on one trait (positive or negative) as being indicative of the whole.
Example: “Brad must be a great entrepreneur; he’s amazing at golf!”
Focusing on one trait (positive or negative) as being indicative of the whole.
Example: “Brad must be a great entrepreneur; he’s amazing at golf!”
Moral Luck
Equating moral superiority with a positive outcome and moral inferiority with a negative outcome.
Example: He won the election because he was morally superior to the loser.
Equating moral superiority with a positive outcome and moral inferiority with a negative outcome.
Example: He won the election because he was morally superior to the loser.
False Consensus
We assume others agree with us by default.
Example: “Everybody knows that!”
We assume others agree with us by default.
Example: “Everybody knows that!”
Curse of Knowledge
We believe that everyone knows the same things we do.
Example: Jane gets frustrated with her son for not understanding multiplication right away.
We believe that everyone knows the same things we do.
Example: Jane gets frustrated with her son for not understanding multiplication right away.
Spotlight Effect
We think people are paying far more attention to us than they are.
Example: Josh is worried everyone at work will notice he needs new shoes.
We think people are paying far more attention to us than they are.
Example: Josh is worried everyone at work will notice he needs new shoes.
Availability Heuristic
We make snap judgments based on the most recent information.
Example: When an airline reports a crash, ticket sales go down until people forget about the incident.
We make snap judgments based on the most recent information.
Example: When an airline reports a crash, ticket sales go down until people forget about the incident.
Defensive Attribution
The tendency to blame others for your mistakes out of self-protection.
Example: Brad scapegoats Jill for submitting a bad company report even though he did all the research.
The tendency to blame others for your mistakes out of self-protection.
Example: Brad scapegoats Jill for submitting a bad company report even though he did all the research.
Just-World Hypothesis
Believing the world to be inherently just, we interpret injustice as bad karma.
Example: Jackie broke her ankle because she made fun of Jill’s medical condition.
Believing the world to be inherently just, we interpret injustice as bad karma.
Example: Jackie broke her ankle because she made fun of Jill’s medical condition.
Naïve Realism
We privilege our “objective” view of reality over all others.
Example: “I see things for what they are—everyone else is misinformed.”
We privilege our “objective” view of reality over all others.
Example: “I see things for what they are—everyone else is misinformed.”
Naïve Cynicism
The assumption that others act only out of self-interest.
Example: “The only reason the boss gave us a bonus is to squeeze extra work out of us.”
The assumption that others act only out of self-interest.
Example: “The only reason the boss gave us a bonus is to squeeze extra work out of us.”
Forer Effect (aka Barnum Effect)
We see ourselves reflected in things that could apply to many.
Example: “Today’s horoscope was spot-on!”
We see ourselves reflected in things that could apply to many.
Example: “Today’s horoscope was spot-on!”
Dunning-Kruger Effect
The overestimation of ability when one has little experience.
Example: The market firm’s new hire was confident he’d designed the perfect ad campaign, but it ended up losing money.
The overestimation of ability when one has little experience.
Example: The market firm’s new hire was confident he’d designed the perfect ad campaign, but it ended up losing money.
Anchoring
We make decisions based on first impressions.
Example: “The label says gluten-free. It must be good for me!”
We make decisions based on first impressions.
Example: “The label says gluten-free. It must be good for me!”
Automation Bias
We put too much trust in automated systems to fix our mistakes.
Example: “Grammarly suggested it; therefore, it’s correct.”
We put too much trust in automated systems to fix our mistakes.
Example: “Grammarly suggested it; therefore, it’s correct.”
Google Effect (aka Digital Amnesia)
We don’t store information in our brains that’s conveniently found online.
Example: “Who was that actor in the latest Marvel film? I’ve Googled it like ten times...”
We don’t store information in our brains that’s conveniently found online.
Example: “Who was that actor in the latest Marvel film? I’ve Googled it like ten times...”
Reactance
We go against orders, especially when we see them as an assault on our freedoms.
Example: “I don’t care if your sign says masks are required. I can do whatever I want.”
We go against orders, especially when we see them as an assault on our freedoms.
Example: “I don’t care if your sign says masks are required. I can do whatever I want.”
Confirmation Bias
We seek out (and retain) information that confirms what we already believe.
Example: Flat Earthers base their beliefs on a feeling, ignoring all evidence
to the contrary.
We seek out (and retain) information that confirms what we already believe.
Example: Flat Earthers base their beliefs on a feeling, ignoring all evidence
to the contrary.
Third-Person Effect
We see ourselves as more immune to media than others.
Example: “See how brainwashed you’ve become?!”
We see ourselves as more immune to media than others.
Example: “See how brainwashed you’ve become?!”
Belief Bias
We tend to accept the outcome of an argument only if it matches what we believe.
Example: All fish can swim, and whales can swim; therefore, whales are fish.
We tend to accept the outcome of an argument only if it matches what we believe.
Example: All fish can swim, and whales can swim; therefore, whales are fish.
Backfire Effect
You interpret evidence that disproves your belief as a confirmation of it.
Example: You insist the world is flat because NASA faked all those photographs of Earth.
You interpret evidence that disproves your belief as a confirmation of it.
Example: You insist the world is flat because NASA faked all those photographs of Earth.
There you have it, the first 25 cognitive biases everyone should learn.
If you learned something, please RT the first tweet.
Understanding cognitive biases makes the world a better place! Let's spread this important message. https://twitter.com/SystemSunday/status/1526539601489195008
If you learned something, please RT the first tweet.
Understanding cognitive biases makes the world a better place! Let's spread this important message. https://twitter.com/SystemSunday/status/1526539601489195008
To see the next 25 summarized biases tomorrow, follow me @systemsunday
(and turn on notifications)
All systems go,
Ben
(and turn on notifications)
All systems go,
Ben
