5 Brain Bugs I screen during decision-making

The human brain is a result of an evolutionary process of over several million years and has gone through several upgrades along the way. However, it still carries vestiges from our ancient ancestors that have fair chances of biasing our rational decision-making capabilities. Listening to my Economics professor, and reading a few insightful books like Brain bugs by Dean Buanomano, the art of thinking clearly by Rolf Dobelli, and a few more, gave me a good perception of flawed brain wiring and our tendency to succumb to these reasoning biases and effects. Here is the list of 5 brain bugs that I try to overcome with any decision I make in my life.

Correlation vs Causation:

An inference about rising chicken pox cases as being caused by an increase in consumption of ice cream, rising organic food product consumption being a cause of autism, and several more linkages between various events are the shreds of evidence of a biased human decision-making system. Realizing the distinction between causation and correlation has been ever more important to me since I attended my Economics Prof lectures and I can not think of any instance where this bug doesn't encroach. Being born in a religious family, I have heard several such associations, and realizing this distinction helps me be more rational about sensitive topics like it.

Opportunity cost vs Sunk cost:

I learned this concept from my economics professor's lectures as well. Its pretty ignorant of me to have not known the opportunity cost and sunk cost distinction since it gives me such clear guidance in decision-making that involves monetary values and outcomes. While you can read the most precise definition of these terms in Investopedia, watering a dead plant vs a seed is how I'd like to think about these costs. Will I get back the money I spent already or, could I have put these funds to better use, i.e., what are the opportunities I missed while I fund this particular expense? I use this concept to analyze how I spend time during the day/week too.

Mystic- The meaning-making machine:

Vishen Lakhiani of Mind Valley first introduced me to this term to represent the human brain- The Meaning making machine. We are used to analyzing situations, noises, facial expressions, sounds, voices, and others, since our caveman times. That was essential for survival during that time, however, the trait continues within us even today. Our brain constantly works on forming opinions about events, behaviors, and situations, and makes meanings where there were originally none. A friend not responding to the texts might mean that he's genuinely busy, while your brain spins an entire storyline about how unimportant you might be to this person, and that triggers anger, sadness, and fear, and hence the downward spiral begins.

Amygdala vs the prefrontal cortex:

Is this decision governed by conscious realization or impulse? Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, Brain bugs by Dean Buanomano, and the Brain Body Diet by Sarah Gottfried are really good sources to read about the intricate functioning of the human brain and the structural involvement of the brain in decision-making and rationality. The pre-frontal cortex situated along the forehead is responsible for cognitive decisions, while the amygdala triggers the body to act for perceived fear stimuli. Is this action governed predominantly by the Amygdala or the prefrontal Cortex? This questioning makes sure that my responses and actions are not impulse-driven.

Priming effect:

The priming effect is another bug in the decision-making process, where the decision was influenced by a few stimuli, and the connection between the stimulus and the decision remains unrealized. The episode 'The Alliance' of the popular American Sitcom Modern Family is the best example to explain this effect. Are you actually hungry or does seeing a Tim Horton's on your way trigger your appetite? Am I deciding based on the priming I may have gone through? That's a question that stopped me from impulse shopping, staying stoic and not getting carried away by advertisements, and possibly being consciously aware of the Halo effect.

What are the brain bugs you keep in check?

Cheers!

Sru🔥