Sometimes we cannot soberly assess the situation and make the right decision. The main reason is that our brains are trapped in our own cognitive distortions.
It is these prejudices that are the stumbling block in our path. They push us towards pattern thinking, jumping to conclusions based on inaccurate information, and intuitive problem solving. But this does not lead to the best.
In order to learn to accept reality as it is and change the course of your thoughts, you need to be aware of these distortions.
Below estet-portal.com offers to your attention the most common of them.
1. Anchor effect – cognitive distortion, forcing to cling to the first information
2. Herd instinct – powerful force of groupthink
3. Self-confidence effect – a cognitive distortion that pushes for huge risks
4. Procrastination – postponing things until the last moment
5. Tendency to optimism – misrepresentation that results in a vulnerability
6. Placebo effect – belief in "dummy"
7. Ostrich effect – cognitive distortion that makes you hide from problems
Anchor effect – cognitive distortion causing clinging to first information
Anchor effect – a cognitive distortion in which we focus all our attention on the first impression when making a decision.
But, as you know, the strongest is the initial information. In other words, we are attached only to it, not seeing other solutions, although they actually exist. We just don't notice them.
The anchor effect causes our minds to cling to first impressions. And it literally embraces us completely.
In order to understand what we are talking about, let's give an example: when buying a used digital camera, you stare too much at its size and design and external condition, but do not consider what type of matrix it has, external memory size, zoom and other specifications.
herd instinct – powerful force of groupthink
A person tends to quickly take this or that decision if his beliefs are supported by many people. But this speaks of yet another cognitive distortion – herd instinct.
It's a pretty powerful phenomenon where most people's choices strongly influence our decision, even if it doesn't align with personal beliefs.
The herd instinct is insidious in that we can make bad decisions, succumb to groupthink, and also stop thinking for ourselves and lose our "I".
The self-confidence effect – a cognitive distortion that pushes for huge risks
When a person is unsure of himself, he is afraid to take the first steps towards meeting his dream, and therefore he sits in his "cocoon", limiting himself from all the delights of real life.
And self-confident people – it's the exact opposite. They are so confident in their abilities, talent and genius that they go ahead without even suspecting that sometimes it is too risky. After all, when faced with a cruel reality, they can get very disappointed.
Professionals, rather than non-professionals, are more likely to experience thiscognitive distortion because they think they are always right in everything.
Procrastination – postponing things until the last moment
Many modern people face such cognitive distortion. It is expressed in a tendency to constantly put off important and urgent matters until tomorrow, Monday, and so on.
According to statistics, 20% of people – they are chronic procrastinators. For them, procrastination – it's a lifestyle. They miss deadlines all the time, which leads to trouble at work, missed opportunities and, as a result, stress, guilt, and loss of productivity.
Unlike laziness, when you don’t want to do anything, when procrastinating a person realizes how important and urgent it is to do this or that work, but for some reason they don’t takes on it, switching to petty tasks and entertainment.
As a result, life's troubles and health problems arise.
Tendency to optimism – misrepresentation that results in a vulnerability
Many people see the world in a better light than it really is. Of course, the constant optimistic mood – it is not a negative character trait. But if you see everything and everyone in bright colors, you can not notice the danger and violence that you can meet unexpectedly.
Such a cognitive distortion is dangerous in that we become vulnerable.
There is also an opposite tendency. This is a tendency to be pessimistic. Pessimists, on the other hand, are aware of the negative consequences and overestimate them. Although in fact, everything may not be so bad.
Placebo effect – belief in "dummy"
Many of you have probably heard about this phenomenon. But not everyone knows how much he can influence our decision.
The essence of the placebo effect is as follows: if you give the patient a certain medicine, which is actually a "dummy", and suggest to him that it works, the person begins to believe in his "healing effect"; and decides to be treated with this remedy.
In some cases, this actually works even though the patient was actually taking the pseudo-medicine.
Placebo effect applies to in other situations as well. For example, when a person believes in something, it inevitably comes true.
Ostrich effect – cognitive distortion that makes you hide from problems
No one is immune from problems. Sooner or later they meet in the life of each of us. Some people, having learned unpleasant or dangerous information, accept it and solve problems, while others, ignoring it, "hide their heads in the sand" like ostriches.
There is a legend that African birds do this to avoid danger. That's why this cognitive distortion is called that.
The ostrich effect can also be seen in the financial sector. For example, in order to avoid risky financial situations, investors imagine that they simply do not exist.
All these cognitive distortions – this is an illusion of the brain, which does not lead to anything good. A person makes wrong decisions that do not correspond to his true aspirations and desires, stops thinking independently and loses his individuality.
So don't let your thoughts ruin your future. Before making this or that decision, discard all obsessive and stereotyped thoughts and think carefully about all the pros. and against.
Of course, this is painstaking work that needs to be given a lot of time. But it's worth it, because you will learn to change the course of your thoughts and find yourself on the right path.
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