Psychology and Mental Models

Anchoring Bias Anchoring bias is a cognitive bias that refers to the tendency of people to rely too heavily on the first piece of information they receive (the "anchor") when making decisions or judgments. This initial information, whether it's accurate or not, can influence subsequent decisions and lead to an inadequate adjustment away from that anchor. An illustration of historical prejudice is the debates surrounding the Treaty of Versailles, which put an end to World War I in 1919. Under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany and its allies were forced to pay expensive reparations and lose land. An essential part of the pact were the reparations Germany was required to pay to the Allies as compensation for the harm caused during the war. The anchoring bias in this context may be seen in how the Allied forces, particularly Britain and France, made the initial requests for reparations. These first requests were quite high, reflecting the enormous destruction and...

In this post we will explore confirmation bias based on historical event. So lets start. In order to support their preexisting views or hypotheses, people are prone to looking for, interpreting, and remembering information in that way, while disregarding or downplaying conflicting evidence. This cognitive bias is known as confirmation bias. This bias, especially in the face of contradictory facts, can result in a distorted vision of reality and strengthen held beliefs. Here's a historical instance to show confirmation bias in action: Galileo and the Geocentric Model is an illustration. The geocentric model, which centered the universe on the Earth, was the dominant scientific perspective on the cosmos during the 16th and 17th centuries. The time's cultural and religious ideas reinforced this approach. By presenting evidence supporting the heliocentric model, which held that the Sun was at the center of the solar system and that the planets, including Earth, rotated around it, I...

What are Cognitive Biases? Cognitive biases are regular thought processes or mental heuristics that cause people to see reality incorrectly or erroneously. The brain uses heuristics (rules of thumb) and snap judgments in an effort to streamline information processing and decision-making, which leads to the development of these biases. While these mental shortcuts are frequently advantageous, they can also result in mistakes, incorrect interpretations, and irrational decisions. Here are some different types of cognitive biases: Anchoring Bias: the practice of making conclusions based solely on the initial piece of information (the "anchor"), even when that information is irrelevant or incorrect. To understand Anchoring Bias with example please click here Availability Heuristic: People assess an event's likelihood based on their ability to quickly and easily recall similar circumstances. It is sometimes assumed that something is more plausible if it is easier to recall. A...

What are Mental Models? People employ mental models—cognitive frameworks or mental images—to comprehend and make sense of the world around them. These models aid in information organization, outcome prediction, issue solving, and decision-making. In essence, mental models are condensed versions of reality that help people make sense of complicated circumstances by concentrating on important details and connections. Mental models can be seen as inward mental atlases that direct our perception of and engagement with the outside world. They are built based on individual experiences, information, convictions, and cultural influences. As new knowledge is learned and long-held ideas are disproved, mental models can change and adapt. There are various types of mental models that individuals use to interpret different aspects of their environment. Some common types of mental models include: 1.   Analogical Models: Analogies involve comparing two different situations or concepts to find s...