Embrace the Spectrum, Avoid the Box

Humans often struggle with recognizing spectra in complex issues and instead default to categorization, which can be problematic. For example, hurricane strengths are typically classified into five distinct categories, despite being a continuum measured by wind speed. This oversimplification can lead to heightened public reaction with minor changes in categorization, as seen with hurricanes. Similarly, this tendency also manifests in social constructs, such as gender, where binary classifications overlook the nuanced spectrum of identities.