Do we really see what we are seeing? Apart from the general understanding that watching moving pictures is a series of still images that the brain interprets as objects in continuous motion, there are many cognitive biases that tie together our sensory input (vision, touch, etc) into more complicated metaphors which we treat as our mental models, our world view, and often our value system.
The concept of critical thinking asks us to examine carefully and objectively this coded understanding we have constructed of our world, ourselves, our personal guiding principles, and the reference points we have accepted to be the grounds for these beliefs, and then offer internal debate over the validity of these constructs. Whatever we have made of our world we can test, revoke, or confirm.
Seeing isn’t always believing
This infographic (credit to Visual Capitalist ) offers a short list of some of the most common and powerful cognitive biases that work against us at the personal level first, but adds up when working as a team or even a group that comes together for a single event.
How do we ever get anything done when we have to work together?
No Cure but possible remedies
Apply awareness and “SLOW THINKING”. Thanks to the two gentlemen in the top of the infographic, Kahneman and Tversky, who pioneered the research in cognition which exposed these biases, and for those who have followed to apply this (most often citing MENTAL MODELS as the container for as many as 5 or 10 cognitive biases that form the model.).
Try examining thought processes through unfamiliar methods, (LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and other ways to generate ideas through kinesthetic activity, listening or making music without words, visually facilitated activities that allow people to generate visual metaphors that may be different than the well-trod paths of thinking.
Get a coach or mentor and play through scenarios, video them and watch them.
Take a course in design thinking, or user experience design that focuses on user research, ethnographic research.
Travel.
Learn a different language.
Write and draw with your non-dominant hand…or with your feet!
