Most of us certainly don’t like to admit when we are wrong! But it might make you feel a little better to know there are actually reasons we don’t like to be wrong. Much of the information in this month’s article is taken from an internet posting called “Why We Don’t Like To Be Wrong” written by Simon Spichak. <Source: https://tinyurl.com/8y2bcruv> The hope is that once we understand WHY we hold on to stubborn ideas, biases and prejudices, we might find it easier to make changes.
The good news is that to improve the brain’s efficiency, it makes decisions using quick rules-of-thumb called heurestics. The bad news is that these rule-based processes often prevent us from assessing new evidence or beliefs. As a result, heuristics often hinder the progression of our ideas and beliefs, even when they might go against our best interests.
These heuristics consist of different biases and processes which reinforce our current beliefs. To break through existing myths and beliefs, science communicators look towards compassion. It turns out that our emotions play a large role in the way we process and assess information. Understanding how the gears of our cognitive biases work will help us change our own minds.
Learning about biases will help you reduce your hesitancy to new information. Changing your mind lets you switch career paths, relationships, life goals and ideas. Ready to sharpen your critical thinking skills and learn how to identify your biases?
Anchoring Bias
We use prior beliefs when we make decisions or assess our beliefs. Anchoring bias occurs when we rely disproportionally on previous information. Usually this is the first piece of information we receive.
Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman first showed this effect. They asked people to calculate 8 x 7 x 6 x 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1 or 1 x 2 x 3 x 4 x 5 x 6 x 7 x 8, given only five seconds. Most participants would use the first few multiplication results to base their guess. In the scenario where the first two numbers multiplied were 1 x 2, the median of their guesses was 512. When starting at 8 x 7, the median guess was 2250.
What this tells us: When learning new information, it is still anchored to our original beliefs. Thus we undervalue new evidence, preventing us from adjusting our behavior or beliefs.
Confirmation Bias
Imagine you are a specialist doctor. You are called in to a conference with other healthcare staff before making a diagnosis on a patient. The staff in the conference room present a lot of evidence for one diagnosis. Keep in mind, you haven’t even seen this patient yet. When you finally do see the patient, you are much more likely to confirm the diagnosis. We are all prone to rejecting information that clashes with our current beliefs. This means that any new evidence contradicting these prior beliefs is undervalued.
What this tells us: Be careful when assessing new information or evidence. We are more likely to miss the evidence that contradicts our previous beliefs.
Availability Bias
We tend to believe that the first examples that we recall are highly representative of the world. Imagine you are considering whether you should continue buying the lottery. You have never won the jackpot but you quickly remember photos and videos of people who have won!
In another scenario, you might be spending a lot of time and money working on a startup with little to show for it. You might have to decide whether to continue pursuing your venture. Suddenly, you remember the Bezos, Zuckerbergs and Musks of the world. You then overestimate the chance of your startup succeeding. Thus instead of quitting, you continue working on your doomed venture.
Availability bias makes it harder to quit a harmful belief or behavior. When combined with the confirmation bias, its not hard to see why prior beliefs or ideas are hard to shake.
What this tell us: We tend to use the first or most salient examples as representative of a phenomenon.
Why You Should Actively Try To Change Your Mind
On the internet, we often experience echo-chambers. Algorithms behind social media platforms provide you information that confirms your beliefs. In turn, this keeps you browsing and scrolling through the news feeds for longer. Excessive exposure leads to the reinforcement of harmful belief systems.
Changing your mind and behavior makes you more open to new experiences. If you worked the same job for fifteen years, you might decide its time for a change of careers. Other habits or decisions that you made a long time ago may no longer fit the current situation. You might have been hesitant to leave a position or field where you spent a lot of time working in. You might overinflate the job prospects or the chances of promotion. In these cases, changing your mind will improve your job prospects.
People change. It is irrational to expect our beliefs and ideas to stay the same as we develop and grow. At some point, we need to swallow a hard pill — we are wrong. Changing your mind, even though you know it is for the best will always remain challenging. However, accepting new information and evidence will lead you towards critical thinking, self-improvement and fulfillment.
Education Update
Nancie Yonker just completed the Level 1, Introduction to Foot Reflexology class. Reflexology is a science which deals with the principle that there are reflex areas in the feet and hands which correspond to all of the glands, organs and parts of the body.
According to reflexology theory, the feet contain reflex points that correspond to very specific bodily organs. Studies have shown that when a reflex area is addressed with reflexology techniques, there is increased blood flow in the region of the brain related to the body part the reflex corresponds to.
Many recipients claim they have more energy and an improved sense of well-being. Nancie joins two other MTC therapists who offer Reflexology, adding 30 minute reflexology sessions to her menu of services.
Important Dates
Sunday, June 18 – Father’s Day
Wednesday, June 21 – Summer officially begins
Birthday This Month: Misa McCue!
Congratulate her the next time you see her!
Father’s Day Gift Certificate Bonus!
Massage Therapy Connections has partnered with Texas Roadhouse to offer an added bonus (Free Appetizer with purchase of an entree) for every $75 gift certificate purchased for Father’s Day*! What a great extra idea to treat all the Dad’s out there!
*Rules: Gift Certificate must be purchased in our office and will be given the Texas Roadhouse bonus at that time. This will not be applicable to online purchases and will not be mailed out. Must purchase in person to receive bonus. This special is only available from June 1st through June 18th or while supplies last.
Online Gift Certificates also available (Texas Roadhouse coupon does not apply to these purchases).
Feature of the Month – Bamboo Fusion® Massage
Bamboo Fusion® is an innovative modality that integrates the use of heat and bamboo tools in varying shapes and sizes to apply massage to the muscles body. This versatile technique can be applied as a Swedish style relaxation massage or for deep tissue massage.
The gentle heat from the bamboo increases circulation and softens muscle tissue and fascial restrictions.
This session is available from Leah Johnston and David Billingsley. There is also an information video on our website about this modality, presented by Leah Johnston.
Therapist of the Month – Leah Johnston
Leah has a passion for helping others to feel and live their best lives. She graduated from Sarasota School of Massage Therapy in January 2018. Leah’s signature massage style is quite unique – she blends together the therapeutic benefits of a deep tissue massage with the flow of a Swedish massage to create a fully rejuvenating and relaxing experience.
These techniques allow her to perfectly tailor every treatment to fit the needs of her clients and their areas of concern. Leah enhances her massages with Thai Stretching, Bamboo Fusion, CBD Cream, Essential Oils (Infusion Massage), and Silicone Cupping. She completed her Level 1 Integral Sound Healing certification in January 2023 and now offers healing on a cellular level with sound!
Leah is available for bookings on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Leah offers the following sessions: Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Focus Massage, Table Thai, Bamboo Fusion, Infusion Massage, CBD Massage, Silicone Cupping, and the Total Relaxation Tune Up (Sound Healing).
In Appreciation
As I see in my Facebook feed pictures of friends’ children graduating, pictures of “end of school” parties, and more I am reminded of when my daughter was in school and all that summer break would bring. For some, it can be looked upon as a fun time to connect, plan and travel, but for others, it can be a cause for stress about what can be done to keep the kids busy and engaged and who can watch/babysit them while one works. Some people look at change as a bad or scary thing, others see it as a challenge, each person has different ideas on it.
The one thing that can help everyone is to have a plan – get to know your kids friends’ parents (if you haven’t already) and help each other out with keeping the kids busy. Get to your know neighbors – as we all know, raising children can take a village. But most of all, enjoy each day with your friends and family to make as many memories as possible.
In Appreciation,
