Oh, we humans! We are SO full of cognitive bias (that’s psych speak for “jumping to conclusions”) and we are so often so unaware of our tendencies! We like to think that we think but really we usually make an emotional choice and then go looking for logical justification.
The “Halos or Horns Effect” is the human propensity to carry over associations: if we’ve had a good experience with one aspect of a group or organization or product, we tend to carry over our favorable impression to things related to it. The Halos or Horns Effect works on the negative side as well: we have a bad experience with one member of a group, we often judge the entire group.
Strange as it may seem, within reason, cognitive biases can serve a logical function: the world is complex, we need short cuts, rules of thumb to guide us through; it is impossible, exhausting, to approach every situation de nova. The key is to be remain aware, fully aware, of our tendency toward faulty reasoning, and to periodically step back and examine our internal mental maps of the world to insure that they correctly reflect reality.
Closing Quotes:
“Eliminate as many judgments of others in your thoughts as possible. The simplest, most natural way to accomplish this is to see yourself in everyone.” ― Wayne W. Dyer, 1940-2015, Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life
“If there’s something you really want to believe, that’s what you should question the most.” ― Penn Fraser Jillette; b. 1955, magician/illusionist (Penn & Teller)
“It is an acknowledged fact that we perceive errors in the work of others more readily than in our own.” ― Leonardo da Vinci, 1452-1519, 6’4”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_effect
As always, I share what I most want/need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier
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