Why Are We So Wrong In Reasoning And Problem Solving?

It seems that more and more people are getting carried away by their emotions rather than using logic to make decisions. But why is it so hard for us to reason? This question has been the cause of much debate, research and scientific theories. In this article we will examine some of the keys to this matter.

We aim to show that people are much less rational than is commonly  believed  and to systematically state the reasons. No one, needless to say, including myself, is exempt from this lack of logic. We are all irrational some of the time, and the more complex the decisions we have to make, the more we tend to be.

Irrationality can only be defined as a contrast to rationality, so we  must first ask ourselves what it is to be rational. Rationality takes two forms:

• In the first one, rational thinking leads to the most likely correct conclusion, taking into account the knowledge that is available. Decisions made in this way are more complicated, since a decision can only be evaluated if we know all the variables.
• The other form of rationality is to act in such a way that the person, taking into account the knowledge available to him, has the best chance of reaching his goal.

Why is it so difficult for us to reason?

The book Irrationality, the Enemy Within answers the question of why we make mistakes so often when reasoning and solving problems. It gives us a skeptical but hopeful view of our ability to think logically and act accordingly. In addition, it teaches us various procedures that we can follow to improve this skill.

Not all of our mistakes may be fixed by the procedures suggested by the author, Stuart Sutherland. However, it is very likely that, had we known the contents of this book before, most of us would not have made many of the wrong decisions that have directly or indirectly affected our lives.

Studying the mechanisms of irrationality is a path to self-knowledge and, incidentally, to knowledge of the functioning of society. Obedience, conformity, availability error, organizational insanity, out of place coherence, the halo effect, the spectator effect, stereotypes … are some of the characteristics of our thinking that are studied as possible sources of our erroneous form to reason.

On the other hand, rationality also has to do with decision making. In this sense, it is usually understood that if our choices direct us to our ends, we will be rational people; if not, no. There are several psychological factors that lead us to make appropriate decisions. The main ones are the following: the ability to postpone judgment, the complexity of the decision and the influence of emotions.

Are we aware that we fall into the traps of our own irrationality?

Beliefs do not always come from reality, but sometimes arise from the need we have to maintain our self-image. For example, if we believe that others are untrustworthy, it may be because we need to see ourselves as honest people in comparison.

Thus, sometimes, our strongest beliefs only hide a very deep fear.  They can even be the projection of our own characteristics that we do not want to accept because they would conflict with the idealized image that we have of ourselves.

Sometimes we are too comfortable and we don’t want to change. When we believe in something, we adopt a position that is comfortable for us because in this way we are not forced to change or keep looking. No matter what content a belief takes, once we take it for granted, our search is over.  But sometimes this can lead to errors in our logic.

Can we train our reasoning?

Our way of thinking can and must be trained. From a young age, they teach us all kinds of personal care behaviors regarding the physical: brushing our teeth, bathing, fixing our nails, eating, learning to dress. But what about psychological care and mental hygiene? 

We have to start from the basis that our minds sometimes deceive us. The reality that we observe first passes through certain filters. These make that in the face of the same event (such as changes, ruptures, unexpected situations …), it is seen as a wonderful opportunity or as a negative event.

These thought filters are so powerful that they can act as traps, which trap us and provoke emotions that are not always pleasant. In addition, they can make us make decisions or reach conclusions that are not entirely correct.

In short, by  taking care of our mental hygiene we can escape our own intellectual traps. How to do it? By following these rational principles, it will be easier for us to reason and solve our problems.

• Looking for evidence or arguments that oppose our beliefs.

• Not believing a statement as true because we believe that part of it is.
• Remembering that changing your mind in light of new evidence is a sign of strength, not weakness.
• Trying not to get carried away little by little towards an action that, in the beginning, we would not have chosen.
• Not letting ourselves be carried away by a crowd to carry out actions that we would not do alone.

All of our thinking errors may not be solved by the rational principles we suggest in this article; But it is very likely that, with a little effort,  we will be able to improve enormously when making decisions and understanding how the world really works.