We all talk, argue, and make choices every day. Sometimes, the things we or others say can be a bit off or don’t make complete sense. These mistakes in our thinking can make our points weaker or even wrong. Logical fallacies are mistakes in how we reason or argue a point. They can be small … Read more
Have you ever felt you were going in circles trying to make a good argument? You’re not the only one. Circular reasoning is the formal logical fallacy mistake of using a claim to support itself. It happens when the person starts with what they want to end up with. This faulty circle goes round and … Read more
Humans possess an innate ability to connect ideas in abstract ways, bridging the gap between the known and the unknown. This capability allows us to interpret and understand our complex world through patterns and comparisons. However, as powerful as this skill is, it’s not infallible. Sometimes, our eagerness to find connections leads us astray, causing … Read more
Here’s a bit of classic advice: it’s important to make a good first impression. You might know from personal experience that a good first impression makes just as much of an impact as a bad first impression. Why? The Halo Effect. I’m not talking about the video game – think of the halos that sit … Read more
Tell me if you know someone like this. They walk around like a hot shot, claiming to be an expert in their field or at a certain skill, and no one can question them. No one can give them any criticism. No one could even try to convince them that they’re not the best at … Read more
Are you a glass-half-full or a glass-half-empty kind of person? We ask this question because seeing a glass as “half-empty” and seeing a glass as “half-full” are two different ways to look at the same type of glass. A glass that is half-empty seems like a dud. A glass that is half-full is a treat. … Read more
Have you ever been to a restaurant or a store with your parents and grandparents and heard them reminisce about the past? Perhaps they’ve said something like, “Back in my day, gas was only 50 cents a gallon!” While the sentiment is a mix of nostalgia and surprise at how prices have risen, there’s a … Read more
Have you ever heard someone say, “Hindsight is 20/20?” It’s a common phrase used by people who might have just gone through a breakup, made a decision that fell through, or are looking back on their careers. When they say, “hindsight is 20/20,” they mean that it’s easier to see what could have happened after … Read more
Let’s say you sign up online for a free yoga class. But on the day of the class, you feel sick, and you don’t want to go to the class. Do you go? What about this? The yoga class wasn’t free. You paid $15 to attend the class, but you still feel sick on the … Read more
How do you explain the craziness that occurs on the full moon? Or the fact that your grandpa knows it will rain by the pain in his knees? Well, I have some bad news for you. These connections aren’t exactly true. They’re common examples of a phenomenon called the “illusory correlation.” I’m going to talk … Read more
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