Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg Lines of Retreat and Incomplete Maps (with Anna Salamon)
9 snips
Oct 13, 2020 
In an engaging discussion, Anna Salamon, a researcher at the Center for Applied Rationality and the Machine Intelligence Research Institute, shares her insights on navigating social dynamics and personal beliefs. She explores the concept of 'lines of retreat' to reduce anxiety in uncertain scenarios. The conversation highlights the impact of social media on societal polarization, the complexities of communication in relationships, and how individual perceptions can clash with collective narratives. Moreover, they discuss the challenges of understanding diverse ideologies and the importance of fostering trust in dialogue.
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Lines of Retreat
- Leave yourself lines of retreat to avoid motivated cognition.
- Visualize alternative plans if your current one fails, reducing the pressure to believe it must succeed.
Hiking Example
- Anna Salamon uses lines of retreat frequently, even for small things.
- Visualizing getting lost while hiking calmed her anxiety, allowing for flexible thinking.
Whose Map?
- Play the "Whose Map Is Not the Territory" game to test beliefs.
- Narrate actions while reminding yourself your map of reality isn't reality itself, prompting reflection.
