Brain Bias: Why You Shouldn't Emulate Geniuses and Their Rigid Thinking Processes

Brain Bias: Why You Shouldn't Emulate Geniuses and Their Rigid Thinking Processes | Barbara Oakley

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6 жыл бұрын

Brain Bias: Why You Shouldn't Emulate Geniuses and Their Rigid Thinking Processes
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How do you get out of a mental feedback loop? The smartest people-call them geniuses or what you will-tend to shut down outside voices and tend to only listen to sources that they know they'll agree with. But the thing is, this works for geniuses because they are, well, geniuses. Barbara posits that the best thing to do for the other 99.9% of us is to get outside of your own head and be flexible about ideas. Travel more. Even just sitting in a different chair can open new avenues in your head. Your brain craves new stimuli, so give it something to grow on. Ideally, Barbara says, you should listen to people and things that might initially rub you the wrong way, but ultimately get you out of your own mental feedback loop. The best thinking doesn't have to come from emotion-taking a step back and thinking critically about all sides of an issue in a 3-dimensional way is often the best way to think, period. Barbara Oakley's latest book is Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden Potential.
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BARBARA OAKLEY:
Barbara Oakley, PhD, is a professor of engineering at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and Ramón y Cajal Distinguished Scholar of Global Digital Learning at McMaster University. Her research involves bioengineering with an emphasis on neuroscience and cognitive psychology. Alongside legendary neuroscientist Terrence Sejnowski, Dr. Oakley teaches two massive open online courses (MOOCs), 'Learning How to Learn,' the world's most popular course, and 'Mindshift,' the companion course to her most recent book of the same title.
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TRANSCRIPT:
Barbara Oakley: It turns out that it’s all too easy for us to fall into a sort of rut in our thinking and it can feel so comfortable, so good. We can feel so certain that it’s right that we can’t even realize that we’re stuck in a rut. Part of this is called "Einstellung," right, this kind of effect. And that is this sort of you see one approach to do things and you are convinced it’s right- And even it if isn’t the best approach you just can’t see other approaches because you’ve already locked in that first approach.
And to some extent we do that in everything we do in life because as we grow, as we grow from infants and we’re maturing there are synaptic - we’re born and kind of our earliest years we have lots of synaptic connections. And as we don’t use some of them they just wither away and die. So even by six months of age what happens is you’ve lost the ability to even hear certain sounds of other languages because you haven’t actually used those circuits yourself.
So what you want to do in your life is you want to try to expose yourself to novel stimuli as much as possible. So I mean that doesn’t mean that you have to like live a topsy-turvy life, but try things like sitting at a different place at the dinner table or brush your teeth with the other hand.
And, of course travel is a great way of getting out of your comfort zone. One of the things that I think is very interesting is Nobel Prize Winner Ramon y Cajal had said that-he’s considered the father of modern neuroscience and he’d worked with many geniuses-And he said, you know, “I’ve worked with these geniuses, and,” he said, “I am not a genius.” He said, “What I am is persistent and I’m flexible when I see that the data is telling me something different than I thought it should tell me.”
So he was able to change his mind. Now what happens with really smart people, those geniuses who Ramon y Cajal was referring to is they’re super smart. So they’re used to being right and figuring things out quickly. They tend to jump to conclusions and they haven’t had the experience of changing their minds when they’re wrong because they haven’t been wrong that often. And what that does is that makes them less flexible in the face of changing data or even being more open to different ideas.
So I think it’s really important to try to keep yourself flexible, try to talk to people of different opinions, listen to them. Of course you’ll be forming your own opinions, but you’ll be surprised if you listen carefully how you can find yourself being a more open and caring person just for the fact that you’ve listened...
Read the full transcript at bigthink.com/videos/barbara-o...

Пікірлер: 579

@bigthink 4 жыл бұрын

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@Breakbeats92.5 6 жыл бұрын

One of my biggest fears is growing into an old adult that is set in their ways and completely closed off to opinions other than my own. I come into contact with people like that and I think it's a travesty. I hope I am always open to new ideas.

@Breakbeats92.5 6 жыл бұрын

I think about that often. 20 years from now, millennials saying, "when i was your age we had real Hip Hop, like Drake and Lil Wayne. I cringe just thinking about it.

@LePedant 6 жыл бұрын

Music Power I have the same fear. Because of that I force myself to listen to new music and try new things in general.

@Breakbeats92.5 6 жыл бұрын

Kristi Marie Some people are so ensconced in their ego and hubris that they can't get out. It's pretty sad.

@Zeithri 5 жыл бұрын

You have to look at it from all sides of the coin. A lot of people when they grow into adult hood have been taught through school that they need to rigidly accept and obey the system, this is how they live successful lives. And then there's us who reject this, who either end up getting great lives - or absolute crap lives. The difference is that the former prefer to be where they are because that's what they've been told all their lives, while the latter will move all over the place because they desire to know more. That doesn't mean you can't move from one to the other by later rejection or acceptance. Just that, this is the most 'obvious' path.

@davidadams2395 4 жыл бұрын

I don't know how old you are now, but I made the same vow in my early youth because obstinacy ceases growth and creates misunderstanding. I'm only 50, but I do hope I continue staying open-in politics and the arts-and remaining young in spirit by listening to and learning from the young.

@jonathangraham5846 3 жыл бұрын

“to stand on the shoulder of giants, may enable you to look further afield, however, it’s only ever going to be in the direction that they are facing” (Frederick Samson)

@jonathangraham5846 3 жыл бұрын

@ry wall cheers mate, I think it’s class.

@bahulecticmethod509 3 жыл бұрын

You can just turn around...

@rogerrousco2921 3 жыл бұрын

@@bahulecticmethod509 exactly, like standing on the shoulders of giants precludes free will, oh no.

@ThepurposeofTime 2 жыл бұрын

@@rogerrousco2921 the point is its easy to fall into idolatry for a "harmless" constant frame of reference 😂

@sancti3707 2 жыл бұрын

😂 Isaac Newton is said to have sarchastically made this statement, that if he saw farther than others, it was because he stood on the shoulders of giants. But people quote him literally!

@jcoludar 3 жыл бұрын

So true! I work in academia, and there are so many smart people who think they are smart in literally everything and cannot comprehend that they are often totally wrong.

@ThepurposeofTime 2 жыл бұрын

It's work ethic and competition. They most likely actually have the lowest lows that anyone can imagine

@bink865 2 жыл бұрын

I found the same when I worked in academia

@hud86 2 жыл бұрын

"Work" isn't something academia knows of, sure you might be busy, maybe even pulling all nighters to meet arbitrary deadlines, but since nothing of real value is produced by you, or your students, then it really can't be considered "work". you're fortunate to not have to work, and using ones mind for income means you're on top of the social class ladder while using others labor to support yourself. I wish I could use my mind for income, unfortunately I have to build homes, grow food, and fix machinery to make a buck. I have torn muscles, leather like hands, and look about 50 at age 35. My subjective knowledge is off the charts though and I have a great life outside of finances. If you were in academia thousands of years ago you'd be regurgitating how the earth is the center of the universe, similarly today's knowledge might be just as erroneous. It would serve academics better to do a little labor and be a little less class obsessed and actually learn something from their hired labor. Also, like a runner's high, or meditation, separating your mind from your body to do physical chores you know you don't want to do, builds personality and character.

@ThepurposeofTime 2 жыл бұрын

@@hud86 you sound bitter 1. If there weren't academics we'd *still* be saying how the earth is the center of the universe 🤔 2. Not every academic is oblivious to labor, the only reason we have stopped out most pointless wars, cured all types of diseases and skyrocket production is because of the unification of mental and physical labor 3. And yes your "subjective knowledge" *is* off the charts because you can't see further than your nose; or for your arguments sake, further than your hands

@jcoludar 2 жыл бұрын

@@hud86 Dude, you have no idea what I do and what is my upbringing. I grew up in a very poor family in a "shithole country". I had to deal with bandits and poverty and claw my way out of my situation. Yes, my family was a major help, yes my friends - some of whom are left behiond and some of whom that country swallowed whole and spat out only bones - but you have -no freaking idea- what I had to go through to have this "privilege". Peace.

@samuellin9217 3 жыл бұрын

What she said at the end was so on point. Critical thinking is all about stepping back and having non bias opinions. It’s a skill and you can get very good at it !

@chiquita683 2 жыл бұрын

By design schools no longer teach people critical thinking. It's sad but as she noted, it's not new to the world. Only new to us

@dimensiontraveler4264 6 жыл бұрын

"You have to expose yourself to novel stimuli as much as possible". In other words you must increase the psychological factor called "openness to experience". Psychedelic substances have been proven to do that, nice

@Nikkeftw 3 жыл бұрын

Oh man, did they kick my doors down and showed me perspectives! Best decision of my life.

@Ignasimp 3 жыл бұрын

No they don't openness to experience is a trait that depends à lot on genetics and is correlated to IQ. Wich means that geniuses tend to be very high in openness to experience. This video is bullshit, how is she talking about geniuses at all? Geniuses are highly open to new ideas, far more than non-geniuses.

@catbunny8713 3 жыл бұрын

@@Ignasimp yeah but doesnt that all boil down to the connections and subsequent patterns in our neurons? and the connection in our neurons are determined by how "plastic" our minds are (the ability to create/destroy connections with new ones). it's highly accepted (to my understanding) that brain plasticity decreases with adults, but not down to what we would call a 0-point. so yeah, whilst genetics may play a big role in determining openness, it's not some sort of concrete brick wall that fails to budge. the issue with ur comment is that this is basically what the video explained, you're just clinging on to a definition of genuis, despite that being referenced in the video

@Ignasimp 3 жыл бұрын

@@catbunny8713 the main point of the video is that geniuses have rigid ways of thinking, which is the oposite of what really happens.

@catbunny8713 3 жыл бұрын

@@Ignasimp no that’s not the main point lol, and if it is it misses the implication of the main point which is that no matter how much of a “genius” u are, you’re still able to fall into your own traps of ignorance

@jonathangraham5846 3 жыл бұрын

“the more I’m wrong the cleverer I get” (Frederick Samson)

@CliffordStarks1 6 жыл бұрын

Having a group of people with different points of views, and see the world differently can definitely stimulate the mind in a fascinating way.

@FunwithCFS 3 жыл бұрын

As someone born in a Soviet country who's now in the US, I am also feeling the similarities.

@jonathanjollimore7156 3 жыл бұрын

This what drives me mad is people have a very dogmatic way of thinking even if they think they don't

@democratictotalitariansoci1462 3 жыл бұрын

that comment itself sounds dogmatic

@benjamingonihernandez1861 3 жыл бұрын

Finding arming between dogma and free thinkings seems quite difficult.

@TheHalusis 3 жыл бұрын

NO WE DONT

@Pedro-tl8zw 3 жыл бұрын

Everyone always has some degree of dogmatism in it's thinking, the point is if they are open to recognise and even change this dogmatism or not

@technomage6736 3 жыл бұрын

I think your thinking of dogmatic ways of thinking is dogmatic

@mina.975 Жыл бұрын

I love the way she explains about the echo chamber. There are so many people trapped in it these days. Also I loved her lectures on coursera, that was my absolute turning point to start learning. Thank you Ms Oakley!!

@finspin8577 4 жыл бұрын

I took a lot of medical marijuana to help me realise that my thoughts were wrong. Psychedelics really help you to change your mind about things. When I realised how much of my disorders was me obsessing about information suddenly my problems made sense and I was able to move on with my life. All my life I felt weird and different but after taking the medication I realised that the fear I felt when I was in a social situation was because every single social situation is an unknown, not just to me but to others as well. If I shut down it makes them just as fearful as me as I am of them. The problem was I felt like I wasn't human, because nobody ever treated me like I was. It created a power imbalance in my mind where I felt weak and unable to communicate. It still feels strange being autistic and now being able to communicate and look people in the eyes.

@MikeD-tf7dk 3 жыл бұрын

Beautiful. I know boundary dissolving chemicals, when used with that kind of intention, can cause profound breakthroughs, like what you’re describing.

@BadreddineBousseta 3 жыл бұрын

Social anxiety?

@finspin8577 3 жыл бұрын

@@BadreddineBousseta more like an everything anxiety.

@mariangelamariangela4199 3 жыл бұрын

@@finspin8577 I have social anxiety (or maybe it's better to call it everything anxiety as you said)... I feel that I will be like this forever. Reading comments like yours makes me feel a little better

@finspin8577 3 жыл бұрын

@@mariangelamariangela4199 look into Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

@125micah 6 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I can definitely attribute traveling to opening up my mind about other things in life, and to get out of different habits of thinking

@jonathangraham5846 3 жыл бұрын

“to enter a discussion wanting to be incorrect opens up an astute ability to listen, which in turn untaps the restrictions of the mind. Therefore allowing the possibility of infinite knowledge” (Frederick Samson)

@abbasmz509 4 жыл бұрын

It requires a iron will to promote open mindedness and a healthy dose of optimism for it to pay off at some point since our brains are wired by both nature and nurture to form way too many biases by the time we're adults.

@XNicx 6 жыл бұрын

5-5:30 completely agree. That is a HUGE problem. I recognize this but have no power to change it I feel.

@PKWeaver74 3 жыл бұрын

Now watch a video about how psychedelics act on the brain and the reason they are emerging as a treatment for diseases of repeatedly thinking the same things such as depression, OCD, PTSD.

@violetl.4615 2 жыл бұрын

Link please

@PKWeaver74 2 жыл бұрын

From about 21:30 if you want the punchline but the whole video is well worth a watch, lengthy though it is.

@guitarsk8r11 6 жыл бұрын

I really enjoy this speaker's talks here on Big Think. Interesting topics, insightful thought process, and engaging speaking style - all things I love seeing on this channel.

@livewiya 3 ай бұрын

I would never consider myself a genius, but I excelled and stood out in class enough to fall into the habits she mentioned. I often operate under the assumption that a question is solvable, there's one "right" answer, and I should be able to find it quickly. In the artificial environments of many educational institutions, it appeared to serve me well, but many things in life are not solvable, don't have one "right answer", or at the very least aren't readily solved. In daily life, this leads to frustration and inflexibility. Unfortunately, if you can argue effectively, it's often easy to convincingly impose your existing schemas onto a situation and perhaps convince others as well and just keep on marching. It's been a project of mine in recent years to spend more time dwelling with ambiguity, and more recent still, to become more flexible because my range of outcomes and options felt so confining.

@greattit 6 жыл бұрын

This is a great explanation for why intelligent people often have a hard time in a school environment.

@Ignasimp 3 жыл бұрын

No. Smart people have a hard time in school environments because they don't tend to share common interests with their peers, and even when they do less intelligent people can't discuss things at their same level.

@VER_TRISTEZA 3 жыл бұрын

@@Ignasimp how do you differ between smart and intelligent? Aren't they same?

@Ignasimp 3 жыл бұрын

@@VER_TRISTEZA I'm using them as synonyms here.

@VER_TRISTEZA 3 жыл бұрын

@@Ignasimp oh alright

@fahdfahkri9251 3 жыл бұрын

Because the school system has a lot of bullsh*t ...

@cheydinal5401 6 жыл бұрын

Some smart people are smart enough zo realize it's actually a good thing to know you are wrong. Because as you know you are wrong, you no longer are wrong, since you then actually have the possibility to get to the truth

@Ignasimp 3 жыл бұрын

Smart people know far more often when they are wrong than dumb people. It is explained by the dunnnig-krugger effect and the impostor syndrome.

@MrAllanGuitar 5 жыл бұрын

I use this channel as a way to practice and improve my english, the transcript in the description is a wonderful help, moreover, im getting interesting ideas and thoughts.

@MrChechin001 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Big Think. Being aware that you can analize things in different points of view makes you in some way smarter

@MichaelMcdonald69 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you Barbara Oakley & Big Think

@CRLFNKL 2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic video. Thank you for these wise words!

@davidadams2395 2 жыл бұрын

I often come back to this video to remind myself to remain open to new experiences and different ways of thinking.

@greenanubis 6 жыл бұрын

Being always open to new ideas is a form of rigid thinking. There are countless situations where ignoring outside stimuli is beneficial.

@nisssei 6 жыл бұрын

very interesting point

@jackdawcaw4514 6 жыл бұрын

No. Being open is not rigid thinking. Blindly accepting new ideas, that is rigid thinking. Either not accepting anything or accepting everything is rigid. But if you cannot be open, you cannot learn or change your mind. So ignoring outside stimuli is not a good thing most of the time, because you cannot know whether something is useful or not before really hearing it, i.e. being open to it. Afterwards you can quickly decide to ignore/drop it, of course.

@greenanubis 6 жыл бұрын

Just by being open to an idea you accept it to a degree, you put it in the "worth thinking" bin. But there are infinite number of ideas, and we dont have infinite time to evaluate them all, we need to prioritize, we need cut some of them off, your "quick ignore/drop" is not quick enough in the face of infinity. Are you still wondering if earth is flat? Are you "open" to that idea?

@theotryhard8651 6 жыл бұрын

She talking in terms of scientific thinking where taking into account all "stimuli" is essential

@ProdigalExplorer 6 жыл бұрын

Divine Linker perhaps that's what distinguishes true geniuses from the rest of us. The ability to quickly categorize information into the worth thinking about and total trash piles. No I don't toil over whether the earth is flat because I have critically analyzed the facts and know the truth. This has nothing to do with being open to new ideas, in the context where I do not have all the factual information at hand.

@gurumayummadan2646 6 жыл бұрын

That's really good and valid points described there. I was waiting to hear more on reasons not to emulate geniuses but the narration went astray from the title. Also I believe most geniuses work with open minds and that's how they are able to accomplish more.

@Hensch 3 жыл бұрын

this video is a complete mess like what the actual FUCK. I agree with you, the things this lady said apply to the less mentally flexible people actually which she is apparently a part from as she stated that someone TOLD her that geniuses are this and that and close minded and she didnt even double check or anything and just went of that thing one person once said. WTF she is exactly the archetype of problematic ppl shes portraing, its insane i cant believe it. I will make a video analysis of this where i completely dismantle all of the points she made that were all over the damn place and very badly expressed at times like what the FUCK. It's true that what shes suggesting is recommendable at times but thats for the close minded less mentally flexible ppl mostly the case. Wtf this is complete misinformation and i will counter with actual scientific evidence that this is complete bs which will be childs play, that lady just went of one experience or a thing she heard once a lot which is ........ i can't my IQ is dropping by 30 points oh no if this keeps going i might reach her IQ in a couple weeks lmao

@simonscardino4135 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah..! You are righ! Intelligent ppl are actually open minded. They talk and let talk . They see beyond beautiful words, results or consequences matters a lot. Pragmatism is the first rule of the genius, that's the difference. They love dissent, dissagreement...,that way they can explore ideas and concepts at full. They hate amen ppl. Obviously as a working method.

@Hensch 3 жыл бұрын

@@simonscardino4135 yes, i still cant believe how the opposite was stated lol it just doesnt make any sense xD How tf would/can you be smart if you never listened to other opinions it just goes against common sense but whatever, the irony of this video is so insane it's hilarious and frustrating at the same time and im not an emotional person at all so the video does a pretty damn good job at irritating me LOL well, i'll just look at it from the perspective that this once again shows me how far above my intellect apparently is as much as i hate to say but when this much irrationality and nonsense is radiated i feel like im 10 levels above the rest i guessa thanks for that and i dont consider myself to be that insanely smart but whatever who cares

@matthewjonas8952 3 жыл бұрын

Guys, guys. There are PLENTY of highly intelligent people who have a rigid method of thinking, because that rigid system more often than not works for them and elevates them beyond your capacities. Does that mean there aren't flexible geniuses? Of course not! But you must understand, critical thinking is NOT an innate skill. There are many natural geniuses who do not critically examine their own ideas and beliefs. Critical thinking requires a certain self-discipline, which is not something you'll necessarily find among most geniuses. Is it better? Yes. Is it common? No, not as much as you seem to think. It's not even common among the most well-known intellectual giants of our time. As for the video, if you haven't watched Big Think videos before, understand that they always seem all over the place. This isn't the speaker's fault. It's because Big Think comes up with click-baity titles based on something the speaker said. You're lucky that in this case that the majority of what the speaker said still fit the general theme behind the title (rigid thinking is bad).

@simonscardino4135 3 жыл бұрын

@@matthewjonas8952 Some ppl even has no method. They even dont know nothing about the most basic of identity law (x = x) ; for them (x = whatever thing). So, nonsense is the norm. And reality is wrong. 😂 Their world is usually reactive, fulfilled with speedy conclusions, relativity, ambiguity and a foggy logic, colored by a big amount of emotional feelings. (Feeling are not a sustitute for good thinking.) ( $$$$$€€)🤗😂 😎⚡🖖

@parkercash8722 6 жыл бұрын

I think more people should watch things like this to help expand the way you think of things

@ichtube 6 жыл бұрын

It's so liberating to listen to a smart woman of which there's boat loads everywhere in the world. Great wisdom!

@josemontano632 Жыл бұрын

One of the greatest videos I've seen in this channel. Beautiful ❤

@austiblaze_it9832 6 жыл бұрын

I don't see how somone can be a genius with a very close-minded and one-sided view on reality.

@MsSomeonenew 6 жыл бұрын

They specialize in one field and do not stray from it, you get to see a lot of that in heavy scientific fields. And it causes a lot of problems when dealing with these people.

@andrewgodly5739 6 жыл бұрын

It's funny how people throw around this word "genius" without even a full understanding of intelligence. People like to cling to faulty systems of the past for measuring intelligence, like iq tests, yet these systems have been proven to be inconsistent and highly discriminatory towards certain ways of thinking and learning. By testing these "geniuses" they're just testing people who are like-minded. As you said, how can they be geniuses if they're close minded. Perhaps they're actually the idiots of society

@davescruton2829 6 жыл бұрын

Andrew Godly you are wrong about IQ tests and I venture to say you know it. High IQ means your brain makes connections others don't at speeds faster than most can read the question.

@cxa011500 6 жыл бұрын

Austiblaze _it I think it's a matter of focus. Genius often comes from intense focus in a specific domain.

@davescruton2829 6 жыл бұрын

You should take a real one and find out, many IQ tests need no language.

@l0g1cseer47 6 жыл бұрын

Nice think!

@AntonioSilva-ld4dq 2 жыл бұрын

about been right or wrong and thinking, learning, approaching things, to me is an issue that we are incapable of the constant actualization that reality is. So my goal as a student is to been able to get the news or search for them. Interesting this channel makes me think.

@One-Up 3 жыл бұрын

It's sad that the people who really needs to watch this video will never watch it smh

@magedabuldahab7481 3 жыл бұрын

Underappreciated comment

@malemlasiz5844 3 жыл бұрын

It’s more sad who people will watch this video and not immerse any of it

@Ignasimp 3 жыл бұрын

Which is sad is that some people would watch this video and not realize it's bullshit.

@malemlasiz5844 3 жыл бұрын

@@Ignasimp how come?

@Ignasimp 3 жыл бұрын

@@malemlasiz5844 well, I was a little bit agressive on the comment. But what she is saying about geniuses is not true at all. Geniuses have high IQ wich is highly correlated with the trait openness.

@adamicus 6 жыл бұрын

Ruts can be comfortable yet feel constrictive as if we know we're stuck there and feel powerless but this "einschtellung" also blinds us to there being any other way so I see that we need to practice being flexible proactively by changing the more routine aspects of life :)

@TheCortexReaver 6 жыл бұрын

So many people are now thinking "Well this video really showed the other guys! Smart lady says that they should break their bubble, and finally accept my opinion".

@sexybeast7728 5 жыл бұрын

True, the pattern i've noticed in life is that the more a person is open about its ignorance, the more inteligent (and wiser) it tends to be.

@Percsandperks Жыл бұрын

One of the most important things we can do as we get older is never stop learning and being open. The world is always changing and it's ok for beliefs and opinions to change with it.

@Krissdafish 4 жыл бұрын

I can see her point. I must admit I often think I know better than most, with the exception of people I have a sense of respect for. Which is often gained through the belief that these people have something to learn me. Ive often heard the expression that: "Everyone has something to learn you". Maybe, but I dont always consider and individuals as an individual but rather a part of a group either in the sense of religion, politics sports etc etc. Members of these groups often have alot of the same narratives in their mind about the world in which they gather (a mass, political meetings, a sports event etc). And I often find that if I know one of them, I will know very much about the rest of them. Though on occasion you will meet someone who deviates from the rest who are more critical of some aspect of their group but still consider themselves a member of it regardless. Second is that I think a true genius will explore as much as possible, but only retain whatever works for them or otherwise makes sense for them. This is a part of why I feel very secure in my opinion about whatever matter concerns me, and I will admit when I believe I am limited in knowledge. Also I believe that believing you are right, granted you gone through an effort to consider all aspects of a subject, is very beneficial because socially we dont consider the fact as is, we rely more on body language, signs of confidence etc to figure out whether who's right or not, granted we do not already have a strong conviction either way. I dont think that most people consider fact, some do, but those are in the minority and even less of a minority is those who would cross their own established conviction. I dont think that Steve Jobs for instance would have gotten to where he did, if not for his extreme confidence in his ability. He strikes me as a very rigid person, but that can also benefit you as much as it can disable you. But that would depend on the task at hand, whether its a new surprising one or one that you are familiar with, whether the enviorment changes so that old solutions wont work or whether some formulas are timeless.

@Ignasimp 3 жыл бұрын

Well in my experience people of the same religion can have very different opinions on religious topics.

@Ashnesss Жыл бұрын

The only time upbringing makes up 100% of who you are and influenced every minute detail in your life, is if you emulate words, actions, traits, attitudes, values and approach of the people around you. There are people from horrible and disturbing family environments who cannot think, critically analyse or question. They’re set in their ways even when their ways work against them. There are children in stable and healthy family environments, who ask questions and analyse. The greatest philosophers asked deep questions and came up with answers, in peaceful environments. Not stressful environments. When philosophers and artists use the term “struggle” they do not mean violence, injustice or bad treatment. They mean the agitation of not getting a satisfactory answer or doubts, uncertainty and assumptions not being addressed in a satisfactory manner. They do not mean criminal activity, psychological abuse, autocratic ways, tyranny, violence, domestic violence, injustice, misogyny, pessimism and human rights violations. There is no evidence to suggest that financial troubles, domestic violence, injustice, infringement of human rights, neighbourhoods with high crime rate and cold and neglectful parents, create environments in which children and adults become successful, critically analyse, question, defy conventional ways and base their values, approach and actions on evidence. There is evidence to the contrary. They often become products of their environment and continue ways that lead to their lack of success, for generations. They do not change their ways and they fall far behind those who question and were raised in positive, healthy, stable and intellectual environments. Poor neighbourhoods with low levels of education, often have high crime rates. Countries where injustice is high, are countries in which success is often lower and the bar of success is often lower than countries with justice.

@denniscolbert2782 6 жыл бұрын

We need more people like this in the social sciences.

@JohnHurtNoblesquire 5 жыл бұрын

Very well stated.

@AlanJas-ut6ym 4 ай бұрын

Thank you Big Think for creating videos that are consistently excellent

@bigthink 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for the support! You keep watching and we'll keep making more. 😉

@NinjaDoge 6 жыл бұрын

also really good video, its advice can and should everyone can take.

@blaiseronstadt6306 Жыл бұрын

Fascinating, I've got a in PHD friend, Botanist, Entomologist, from Local University, He used to Argue about Everything, even things I knew about more than he did, He Lightened up, after I called him out , to his credit, I have Found, if we your right handed , do things opposite, Left handed, You're more Coorinated your be Brain works better

@markanthonymuya6258 2 жыл бұрын

Wonderful sharing!

@empathylessons2267 6 жыл бұрын

*Wow this blew me away.* This woman totally contradicted my biases and assumptions. Listening to her self-awareness was a humbling experience. Hope in humanity restored. Slightly.

@europeisthebestloveisblind5524 6 жыл бұрын

Empathy Lessons well no this women is totally wrong she says it becous eshe tries to enforce impoct and ogedience and use ala copulants like one men treat us lime slaves people think on your own but do not assume that this womwn is accurate she is not listening to the people and obedience is showing low iq not high iq genius is smart becouse they are going their own way and using ewerything to grow and flourish not listen to other crazy people that will only kill you

@empathylessons2267 6 жыл бұрын

Alksandra Pawluczuk I must admit, that I didn't quite understand.

@veegaanmyooon44 6 жыл бұрын

Empathy Lessons Sounds like a loon. Btw the vast majority of what she talking about is being wary of confirmation bias except using more plain english to explain it. High IQ people tend to be even more vulnerable to this bias, but this is by far one of the most widespread biases that have the most serious societal consequences as well as being very self-limiting to individuals. Confirmation Bias is something we should all be weary of, because it is especially relevant in regards to group beliefs and the forming and maintenance of echochambers. It's one of the core features of tribalism, which you see all the time within politics and racism; and as of recently you even see it in matters revolving around gender. If you want to extreme displays of confirmation bias, just look at either the far right or the far left... they both equally fall victim to it at comical levels.

@empathylessons2267 6 жыл бұрын

Vex Spice Well even loons have value to add to a conversation. But I really agree with everything else you said. For me, confirmation bias plays an especially huge role in gender issues and politics. I find myself in the "skeptic" echochamber. So hearing her really blew my expectations out of the water. It was so refreshing to be (metaphorically) slapped in the face with the awareness of the confirmation bias I was bringing in to this very video.

@dulipub 6 жыл бұрын

Very timely. Most people in all sides need to watch this, they live in their echo chambers.

@holatio4028 6 жыл бұрын

Great piece. Highly reminiscent of Jonathan Haidt's work. Certainly worth checking out if you found this clip interesting.

@Hitman-li1hg 2 жыл бұрын

This lady taught me how to learn. Best teacher everrrrr

@famidaislam5542 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the Coursera course

@Oats_with_milk 3 жыл бұрын

Hahha Barbara okley, she was a teacher in course for learning effectively on coursera!

@bryanyeo424 3 жыл бұрын

I recognize her voice from years ago when I took the course haha

@VER_TRISTEZA 3 жыл бұрын

Wow didn't know that

@AntonSwanepoelTravel 3 жыл бұрын

I did the course. Thought she looked and sounded familiar, then I saw your comment.

@bink865 2 жыл бұрын

Learning how to learn

@benhill3098 6 жыл бұрын

I always considered a genius to be someone who was extraordinary smart, and a big factor in being smart is being open to different ideas and information. What is discussed in the video sounds like a sort of high-intelligence trap, a temptation towards rigidity or inflexibility in thinking that many people, including geniuses, have been susceptible to. But I don't consider genius and inflexibility to go hand in hand.

@floweryunicorn8888 2 жыл бұрын

Actually you can be both flexible and inflexible at the same time. No one is completely open minded or completely close minded. I believe the emotions and the environment during the specific event that requires a specific way of thinking affects the way a person will react. Anyone is possible to think in a rigid manner and anyone is possible to completely change their ways. An example is Albert Einstein, despite his flexibility with certain matters he was inflexible on others. Nothing is absolute. Someone can be flexible to the ideas that have to do with the subject that interests them yet be inflexible to other things. I don't know how to explain it any better (especially since English is not even my first language), but it's a mix of moments of flexibility and good ability to analyze information that leads to "being a genius", yet those moments don't necessarily define the person as a whole. I hope i make sense.

@arielsong1289 Жыл бұрын

I have been traveling into different countries for education opportunities, and thus have formed friendships with people of different backgrounds, with different political views etc. whilst I have my own worldview, I found it really hard and uncomfortable while talking with friends who hold their perspective very strongly and tried to persuade me into believing the same. However, this antagonizing discomfort also pushed me to be as open-minded, neutral, and mentally flexible as I can, to be able to encompass all kinds of idea and understand where they were coming from. It gets lonely sometimes to not "have a group", it is the so called "hard way"I guess, but it also brings me intellectual joy, for being a person who can truly see the world more vividly.

@tejuswadbudhe7909 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you

@shinjipascal862 Жыл бұрын

thanks for this video

@jamesbra4410 6 жыл бұрын

I have never really understood the meaning of smart or genius. There are so many synonyms for what that can apply to.

@ganggang2176 2 жыл бұрын

I just love watching her talk

@firehorse1518 6 жыл бұрын

loved it, thank you! I'll be saving this one

@caramandunga100 6 жыл бұрын

The first thing that come to my mind when people talk about geniuses is a genuine holistic pron to understand and thinking out of the box and by the way not to be rigid inside your head. Probably there is a misinterpretation of what she tried to say.

@nunoalexandre6408 6 ай бұрын

Love it!!!!!!!!!!!

@peterorthmann5612 2 жыл бұрын

First, you do this presentation very well. You project being a nice person. Next, the notion that in the USA you were free to speak your truth? W in 1967 while in the Navy I mentioned to a group of fellow sailors that my grandfather had been a 2 star General in the Russian Army. The next day I was explaining to Navy Intelligence the difference between the Russian army of WW1 and the Soviet Army of WW2. The ship DID do a lot of hush hush things so maybe they were unusually cautious.

@tamasszabados6178 2 жыл бұрын

I'm really open to new things and I always try to hear out other peoples opinion, but it also has it's downsides. Knowing too much about a subject, or hearing too many varying opinions, makes me soooo confused. Like till the point I'm stuck in a rut of contemplating way too long and thus being literally unable to make a decision.

@weldabar 4 жыл бұрын

Absolutely!

@mitchparker7763 6 жыл бұрын

I think's it is great to understand geniuses, and not really copy them. Like Elon Musk says to always have a "why" when you do something which I think is so important. I might make a video on this topic in the future.

@greenanubis 6 жыл бұрын

Yeah, well, try asking someone why they like or love something. No one bothers to think about the answer. Idiosyncrasy ensues.

@Qman621 6 жыл бұрын

I think genius might just be a term we use for really passionate people that have the tools to accomplish something impressive in a particular field. We should all have the potential to be some sort of genius, although that isn't exactly necessary.

@SoFZlodei24 6 жыл бұрын

It isn't always necessary to have a "why" to do something or while doing something. From personal experience I can tell you that right now you may not have a "why" but later you still would have benifits from what you did.

@greenanubis 6 жыл бұрын

+Connor Price Okay, you gave an answer. My gripe is with people who give half assed answers like:"because i want to" and then just stand there all smug about how they confidently and eloquently expressed themselves. But its bullshit, it means nothing and its superficial. Either they are to lazy to take a second to formulate an answer, so clueless that they cant follow their own line of reasoning, so out of touch with their nature that they confuse it with nurture, dont respect you enough to spend that second thinking about your conversation, or they are just retarded and have limited resources to express themselves. Btw, answer to most "why's" is as big as the universe. Im sad that people routinely reduce it to nothing.

@nikibronson133 3 жыл бұрын

that guy isnt a "genius"

@pogmog 6 жыл бұрын

Barbara Oakley always seems to give sage advice.

@mautrindade 3 жыл бұрын

This video should have waaaaay more views. Why do you think it hasn't?

@Psychoma99 3 жыл бұрын

Because seeking out information on how to better change your thoughts and attitudes about the world aren't very popular. Someone could disagree but I think it's a niche.

@mautrindade 3 жыл бұрын

@@Psychoma99 because the woke wave absolutely demonises critical thinking

@Kenny.G60 3 жыл бұрын

This message is a necessity today.

@defdac 3 жыл бұрын

Ideology: The clean and well lit prison of one idea.

@frederikrokamp 3 жыл бұрын

This is great

@ignominius3111 3 жыл бұрын

I missed the part about the advantage to not emulating genius.

@admildomanuel544 3 жыл бұрын

I think what she meant is that maybe a certain way a genius does something may not be actually the best way to do it or that it’s not the ultimate way of doing that for many reasons, one been that some are not that much open minded. we should be open minded and try different approaches .

@Ignasimp 3 жыл бұрын

@@admildomanuel544 well she is dead wrong. Geniuses have very high IQ, and High IQ is correlated with being more open to new ideas.

@FocusMrbjarke 6 жыл бұрын

I think it is much more complicated than this as all humans are different and go through things differently and sometimes you need to be wrong a lot of times to get to the right answer

@ryan_dosa 2 жыл бұрын

great !

@davidlopezlive 6 жыл бұрын

It really sucks that the majority of people fear change because we would be so much more advanced if we embraced it and pursued it.

@tonylocke1214 Жыл бұрын

I’m a little surprised that we are referring to such people, as “geniuses”. Surely a considerable component of intellect, is the ability to accept and understand that a methodology, or any aspect of a hypothesis, might be wrong. But that therein lies more information, with which to potentially improve one’s understanding of a given subject. Does the status of “genius” truly apply to those that cannot accept, let alone utilise, the ways in which their hypotheses might not be reflected in the results of rigorous examination? I don’t advance this notion from any more than curiosity, but it occurs to me that, single/narrow mindedness, whilst perhaps frequently perceived in the behaviours of so called geniuses, are a bug, rather than a feature. We often see such behaviours from acclaimed geniuses in such fields as sports, high profile business, the arts, entertainment more broadly, etc., yet we also seem to be accepting such illogical/irrational behaviours/mindsets, from those classed as the most rational, logical, scientific minds in our society. Perhaps this might be the strongest argument for AI? With the chaos that has been wreaked upon the planet, by we humans, over the past two centuries in particular, it might be, that we need an absolutely logical, rational set of solutions, that are not corrupted by politics, greed, or any of the biases, prejudices, or indoctrinated hatred, that currently infects the current politics of (but certainly not limited to), those of the US. I fear we might be a few generations away yet.

@Adzes 6 жыл бұрын

Assuming how a genius thinks was my first indication that Oakley has rigid thinking processes.

@alanoudaltrad9698 3 жыл бұрын

I love this women 🙏🏾♥️

@truthfullparadox2811 6 жыл бұрын

I think that motivation or the lack there of is necessary for bias thinking. A really smart person can have cognitive bias and also someone with a low or average IQ. But I think that a real need to clear up any cognitive dissonance to sustain inner stability is in someone the salvation from cognitive bias thinking. But for some else this can be the reason to have and sustain the cognitive biases.

@paytonleighty5353 2 жыл бұрын

Studying yin and yang really really helps with this as well

@ristoshikongo7730 2 жыл бұрын

16 July 2021 I've mastered the basics of coding including programming paradigms but I'm stuck with bash. Which is a good progress but I've come to realize that coding is difficult. I dropout of school because the guys I emulated were dropouts and self-taught programmer. So I dropout and I'm pursuing coding as a self-taught. What a fool I was. Luckily, I don't have any backup, so I just have to persevere. Please keep me in your prayers because that shit is hard. Thanks.

@hannuak Жыл бұрын

I think really intelligent people seek out for different opinions to challenge their own thinking. That's the only way to progress over and through your own bubble.

@mikec6733 2 жыл бұрын

If fallen into a rut in my thinking, and it's not comfortable AT ALL !!!

@bingo1232 3 жыл бұрын

Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac both said, "Widen the area of consciousness."

@rinopw4262 3 жыл бұрын

I really like the last part

@lexlex5555 3 жыл бұрын

I still don't get why people usually assume I'm smart. I've literally pretended this entire time and tried to work my way through. Anyways... god bless this woman.

@iriscapes 3 жыл бұрын

The best approach consists of many approaches.

@ingridlandberg8662 2 жыл бұрын

I tried to add a comment that wasn't in 100% agreement. There wasn't malicious intent but it was flagged by Google. I edited it several times but it still was flagged. Interesting from a video titled "Brain Bias,: Why You Shouldn't Emulate Geniuses and Their Rigid Thinking Processes" by Barbara Oakley

@amitkumarranjan7405 5 жыл бұрын

Brilliant

@ThankYouESM 3 жыл бұрын

Not too long ago... I was given permission by somebody I met a few times to start a friendly debate on her fb wall which many of her friends agreed to. I simply ask them to give me what is their best argument because they didn't seem interested in evaluating any of the 200+ mainstream links and direct links. All they did was post just a single mainstream source... and the rest is entirely one-sided hearsay. Right away... had told them to give me a few dats to respond which I began kindly pegging down every claim in detail in explaining what made sense and what doesn't make any sense. That same day... many of them were asking me why is it taking me so reply... whereas I said further research on my part to collect even the most recent update is necessary. Still... one of them kept asking for any sort of response... and about 30 minutes later... I provided about 250 links... then, interestingly enough, never heard from him again. Third day, I gave my long response, especially filled with government supported links... which a few of her friends tried to explain to me that we should never trust the CIA... not FBI... not the NRA... not NASA... not the NoblePeacePrize website... not the Supreme Court Judges... none of the reports from Police Chiefs... basically, over 2500 direct links altogether. Soon as I said what they are disputing seems almost entirely speculative... many of them began to call me very childish name while posting emojis galore and childish memes which I never see the other side do.

@jamieshannon5061 Жыл бұрын

well said barbara Oakley, i am looking her up.

@YrTurretIsDestroyed 6 жыл бұрын

@premnarayan284 Жыл бұрын

If we listen to different opinion and conclude another opinion and stuck to it. Or another scenario keep listening to other opinion and never come to a conclusion. Which one is good?

@KushAidMan 3 жыл бұрын

We need to look at things from all angles

@DasWm 6 жыл бұрын

Read David Deutschs' new book on the beginning of infinity if you like this kind of analsys of the way we should think to propel our understanding and power to manipulate the universe.

@Kumarrr9 2 жыл бұрын

Somebody hug this lady for me.

@kantsee6307 6 жыл бұрын

I wonder when geniuses get too concentrated on stuff, it helps to dilute their focus.

@takkiejakkie5458 6 жыл бұрын

At some point, you have to embrace some tunnel vision aka focus and stick to something long enough to see whether it works (or not). After that, be open minded again. You can't ALWAYS take into account new perspectives, ideas etc. It will leave one paralyzed. It isn't practical.

@limhock604 6 жыл бұрын

There are different types of Geniuses. Some genius brains are wired to be especially flexible.

@spiralsun1 3 жыл бұрын

Indeed... I left graduate school school after 4 years to write a book on my own because I saw the “nichefication” of their thinking and it’s an automatic thing. I am completely persistent and I hated school so I never got into the pattern of doing what teachers wanted for rewards. Once someone at work said “don’t reinvent the wheel” and right then I knew that I didn’t belong there because being able to conceptualize how things work at the most basic level is the key to everything. I couldn’t learn my multiplication tables because I didn’t want to be someone who just came up with the right answers. Every single time I walk through it. I visualize and verify the geometric set patterns. Cross-verify and feel the numbers, not just the right answer. That’s a microcosm of how I do everything. Now I just assume things that other people would freak out and build a career on simply because a career has never been my aim. Several times this has actually happened. My motives and purposes are different and I refuse to let myself fall into a niche. The thing is, the brain is diabolical and will alway take the path of least resistance and stay in a comfort zone if you let it. I dove deep into evolutionary psychology and behavioral neuroscience for that reason. I took 4 different personality and IQ tests. I tried to look into the dark places in me by looking objectively at my own behavior to see what I am like with others and I love all criticism. Your brain can derail your thinking-I do not let it. Currently I live in my car. Last year I went skydiving a couple times. I ran 100 miles in 20 hours at 50. I wrote 4 books and read maybe 70 books last year. I watched almost 3000 videos. After a while I began to see meta patterns to civilization and people’s behaviors I can see ultimately what people are doing when they don’t see. I have discovered many amazing things about the world and humans that are revolutionary but my problem is that people don’t understand me. I see that searching for who I am and trying to put me in a box. It’s like talking to your dog about calculus. Sorry but it’s true. I don’t mean to be mean. The last thing I am is competitive. Competing for grades corrupted the learning system in many ways and I saw how it kept people from truly reaching their potentials. Nothing can substitute for a passion for learning and understanding itself as a motivation. I used to stay home from school to read physics books, psychology books and program my computer when I was in high school. That sort of thing. Anyway I don’t think most people are cut out to truly understand things. Personality theory backs that up. It’s like 2% of the population that is truly objective and self-objective in personality and you have to be highly intelligent and extremely rebellious too in order to not be pressed into a mold. By the time you add up all the probabilities, it’s pretty rare. You have to risk everything all the time when you are alive or else you run the risk of never having lived when you die. Press and challenge yourself always.

@eduardoaraujo8174 3 жыл бұрын

@@spiralsun1 Im more like the same. When i went to school i already had the curiosity for learning initially when learning to read it was a very easy task for me as i dont find a very deep meaning in it but allow me to read more. Learning basic operations also made a lot of sense to me. But a few years went by and when not so obvious stuff was teached in higher grades i was starting to have lots of questions. I feel like i need to learn the most fundamental things about subjects that why i loved science. Being able to try to understand the world and equations so on was very interesting and i was the best. Although in 7th grade i just fell into the niche but also fell but i never felt like studying the way people did. It was so boring. I stopped doing exercises and started bad habits. I had a friend who enjoyed to learn new things and understanding them we constantly talk about theories and explaining stuff and so on. But we also talked about drugs and so on. I have a problem since i become crazy when doing anything. I become dreamy i feel like im in a ilusion. I dont understand very well since im in alterwd state and dont remember my thoughts exactly. I had to go to psychiatrist and was medicated. At least i grew up and now i have a girlfriend. Since then im rediscovering my purpose and wanting to learn things the way i think is the correct. My friend at university say im stubborn because i like to go deeeep and they just accept. Recently when i started to learn quantum mechanics i dindt give much attention in class but when studying i started to question a lot and i want to dig deeper because science theories are just an aproximation of experience. Try to explain by experience. I want to know the fundamentals and in quantum mechanics for example there are interpretations with missinformation although is the most "correct" theory. I think something is missing which is something very very deep within the theory. Although since that experience i dont allow myself to use my brain at their best becausr im afraid i go crazy and sabotage my thinking. I use now an approach of constantly finding a better answer because there is always one in my opinion. I know i can go very deep in human behaviour and im trying to understand that. Basicly now i want to have a deeper understanding of everything by questioning and finding answers thinking i can always be better

@anderpanders6210 3 жыл бұрын

@@spiralsun1 What did the IQ tests say? 140 ish? Anyway, nice story that resonates. I too feel as if I am too open and too empathetic for most people. I very much dislike the black and white thought patterns that are eminent in today's world. People tend to think of others and things as either good or bad, whilst in reality all subjects have good and bad sides. Dogmatic thinking is the antithesis of progress.

@Ignasimp 3 жыл бұрын

@@spiralsun1 by being so intelligent and unique you fell to the same trap most people have fallen today. The one that says how terrible the education system is. If you really are the genius you are telling us you are, you should realize you are an exeption and the education system is not done for you, so saying it is bad because it didn't work for you is actually very ignorant, unless you are a fraud and all you said is just bullshit which, I might add, is what it seems while reading it.

@5people829 3 жыл бұрын

@@Ignasimp wrong as a student pretty much everyone hates the education system not just those who are super smart. The modern education system thats used ww is was invented in the 1800s when big corporations wanted obedient factory workers so education was never even the main focus of the education system anyways.