The Illusion of Control: 7 Ways we lie to ourselves that even defeated Napoleon - [Cognitive Biases #5]
Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement
When illusion of control helps then hurts
Sam shows short-term benefits of control illusions and how they contributed to Napoleon's successes and failures.
How the mind blinds us to reality by showing us what we want to believe.
We don't see with our eyes; we see with our stories. In 1951, psychologists proved that fans from opposing teams physically saw different fouls during the same game. This is the power and danger of perception.
It is the tension between what is real and what we believe is possible. When a doctor gives a patient a placebo, the patient heals not because of medicine, but because of the story of the medicine.
In this episode, we explore the cognitive biases that shape our culture and our work. From the "Baader-Meinhof" phenomenon to the tragedy of Napoleon’s retreat, we examine how our perceptions limit our possibilities.
Actionable Takeaways:
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Change the narrative: Use the Placebo Effect to create positive outcomes through the power of expectation.
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See the system: Recognize how the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon highlights opportunities you previously ignored.
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Reframing value: Use the Contrast Effect to understand how relative comparison dictates the worth of your work.
Go make a ruckus by changing how you choose to see the world around you.
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Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order.
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Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
CHAPTERS
00:00 The Historic Football Game
01:35 Selective Perception in Politics
02:26 Reality Distortion Fields
04:13 Napoleon's Rise and Fall
05:58 The Exposure Effect
09:06 The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon
11:26 The Placebo Effect
15:57 The Illusion of Control
19:04 Napoleon's Russian Campaign
21:29 The Clustering Illusion
25:34 The Contrast Effect
30:03 Reflections on Cognitive Biases
33:09 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action
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