Woo-kyoung Ahn | Thinking 101: How to Reason Better to Live Better
Mar 29, 2023
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Woo-kyoung Ahn, John Hay Whitney Professor of Psychology at Yale University, specializes in higher-level reasoning. She delves into how cognitive psychology can enhance daily life and the powerful allure of fluency in perception. Ahn explains the difference between rumination and contemplation, emphasizing the challenge of answering 'why' questions. She shares insights on visualizing our future selves, the importance of critical thinking, and navigating judgment and overconfidence. Her discussion highlights practical applications of reasoning for personal growth and wisdom in daily life.
Cognitive psychology enhances everyday decision-making by addressing biases, encouraging better understanding of thought processes, and leading to improved life outcomes.
Recognizing the allure of fluency helps individuals avoid pitfalls in judgment, ultimately fostering critical thinking and informed choices in various contexts.
Deep dives
The Value of Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive psychology has the potential to significantly improve the world by addressing practical, everyday issues rather than focusing solely on abstract concepts. By applying cognitive principles to real-life scenarios, it can help individuals better understand their thought processes and decision-making. This approach encourages people to question intuitive judgments and recognize cognitive biases, leading to more informed choices. Professor Ahn emphasizes that understanding these cognitive processes can lead to better outcomes in various aspects of life, including education, mental health, and interpersonal relationships.
The Allure of Fluency
Fluency refers to the phenomenon where individuals perceive ideas or tasks that are easy to articulate as being more valuable or correct. Professor Ahn discusses how people's tendency to overestimate their understanding of certain subjects or tasks can lead to poor decision-making. For example, individuals often believe they know information simply because it seems familiar, which can create a false sense of confidence. Recognizing the allure of fluency is crucial for improving critical thinking and avoiding potential pitfalls in judgment.
Understanding the Nature of Causality
Causal reasoning is inherently complex, and individuals often struggle to accurately identify the causes of events in their lives. People frequently oversimplify causal relationships, blaming singular events for outcomes when multiple factors are likely at play. Professor Ahn highlights that understanding the probabilistic nature of causation can help one navigate life's challenges more effectively. Developing an appreciation for the intricacies of causality can lead to better decision-making and a more nuanced understanding of personal experiences.
The Challenge of Delayed Gratification
The concept of delayed gratification reveals how individuals often misjudge the connection between their present and future selves. People frequently choose immediate rewards over future benefits, resulting in procrastination and suboptimal choices. Professor Ahn notes that understanding this psychological distance can empower individuals to make better long-term decisions. By fostering a greater connection with their future selves, individuals can mitigate impulsive behavior and cultivate a more balanced approach to decision-making.
Welcome to In Search of Wisdom, a podcast by the Perennial Leader Project.
In this episode, my guest is Prof. Woo-kyoung Ahn, the author of Thinking 101: How to Reason Better to Live Better. Dr. Ahn is the John Hay Whitney Professor of Psychology at Yale University. Her main area of research interest is higher-level reasoning processes. In particular, the study of how people learn and represent concepts and causal relations and how causal explanations shape our thinking processes.
In the conversation, Dr. Ahn and I discuss,
Why cognitive psychology can make the world a better place
The allure of fluency and why it matters
The difference between rumination and contemplation
The reason “why” questions are generally unanswerable
How to think about the future self
Wisdom in daily life and much more
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