Thinking Traps (Part 1)

I have written previously about “mental models.”

A mental model that malfunctions or produces an unplanned result is called a “thinking trap.” Here are some common examples. Remember, we all fall victim to these at some point.

We focus on the wrong things. We live overstimulated lives, which we attempt to process through a working memory that can handle about seven items (plus or minus three). As a result, we are overly impressed with whatever happened most recently, with memories and experiences that are most vivid, and with information that is easy to obtain. We are also prone to screen out information that does not conform to the mental model we are using at the time.

We are less rational than we think. Our days go by in a blur of stimulus-response, click-whirr routines that require little thought and less attention. We go along to get along, become excited by deep discounts on things we don’t need, make donations to causes we don’t believe in, and invest in things we don’t understand... the list goes on and on. We run on autopilot.

To be continued...