Russell conjugate
When someone chooses different words to describe something, depending on how positive they want to be about what they are describing.
As you read or listen, ask:
“Am I forming my opinion on facts, or on the opinion of the author/speaker?”
Introspection Illusion
We think we understand our motivations, our desires, our likes, and dislikes.
We believe we know ourselves.
In fact, when we are asked to describe our emotional states, we are often made up.
Dig deeper and reflect more.
Gambler`s Fallacy
We believe that future possibilities are influenced by past events.
You lost him 9 times in a row, but you will definitely win next time!
After nine straight wins, how could he lose one next time?!
Lesson: Treat each possibility separately from the past.
Catharsis
The tendency to “vent” (release strong emotions) counter-intuitively leads to strong emotions and aggressive behavior instead of releasing them.
Once you get used to vaping, it becomes addicting.
Remember, “This too shall pass.”
Law of (Truly) Large Numbers
Highly unlikely events occur much more frequently than expected given sufficiently large sample size.
“8 times a day in New York, odds in a million” (up to 8 million population) – Penn Jillette
Don’t be surprised if miracles happen.
Perfect Solution Fallacy
We reject something on the grounds that it is inferior to an ideal that is unattainable in reality.
We believe there is a perfect solution to any problem.
The reality is more complicated and there are trade-offs.
Choose the most compromised option.
The Petrie Multiplier
Statistically, in large groups, it is easy for the majority of people to avoid identity slurs.
Members of minority groups face an underappreciated level of harassment.
This is because there are potentially more harassment givers than recipients.
Causal Reductionism
His mistaken attribution of an effect to one cause when in fact there are several.
John: A cat ran in front of my car and wrecked it. Cop: Wasn’t it because you texted your girlfriend and drove drunk?
Keep the full context in mind.
Prototype Theory
We take things around us and compare them to existing mental “prototypes” to reduce the processing load.
Unfortunately, this blocks new information and forces you to focus on ideas that already exist.
Remember: be open and flexible to new interpretations.
False dichotomy
A persuasion tactic that presents only two options or possibilities when there are more than one. The presenter makes the audience believe the options are black or white and nothing in between. Whenever you are presented with a choice, ask, “Do you have any other options?”
