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Thinking in English

263. The Foreign Language Effect: How Thinking in English Can Improve Your Decision Making and Memories! (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Sep 25, 2023
Discover how thinking in a foreign language can enhance decision-making and memory. Explore the impact of thinking in a second language on decision-making and biases. Learn about the benefits of learning a foreign language on decision-making, memory, empathy, and cognitive flexibility. Understand the advantages of thinking in English and sharing feedback.
24:57

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Quick takeaways

  • Thinking in English can improve decision-making by making individuals more rational and less biased.
  • Speaking in a foreign language, like English, can enhance memory recall and reduce the creation of false memories.

Deep dives

The Foreign Language Effect: How Language Shapes Thinking

Speaking a second language, such as English, can have significant effects on thought processes and decision-making. The "foreign language effect" suggests that using a foreign language can make individuals more rational, improve financial decision-making, and impact moral judgments. Studies have shown that people tend to act more utilitarian in their second language and are more willing to take risks when making decisions. Additionally, using a foreign language can reduce biases, such as the bias blind spot and the sunk cost fallacy. Thinking in English can also affect memory, reducing the creation of false memories and lessening emotional distress when recalling traumatic events. Overall, learning a foreign language, like English, can lead to objective thinking, improved decision-making, and various cognitive benefits.

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