Behaviors Flashcards
(30 cards)
With changing behaviors we can only see the output so what does this mean?
It means we don’t know if the behavior will change.
What is complicated about free will?
when we are overwhelmed we don’t have the mental energy to try new things (it’s effortful)
T/F - Daily decisions are made very carefully without any pattern?
False! we repeat past patterns
Actions are just reactions to ??? in our day?
Cues in our day. we should change cues, routines, environment, and behaviour
What is the Law of Least Effort?
People gravitate to the least demanding course of action.
Laziness is built into our nature
What is the Law of Least Effort?
People gravitate to the least demanding course of action.
Laziness is built into our nature
Can you keep focusing no matter what?
No!
T/F - we have endless amounts of mental effort?
False - it’s a finite amount and gets depleted when used
T/F - We use mental effort to control our thoughts, emotions, and impulses?
True!
T/F - we don’t use mental effort to control performance and focus on the task at hand?
False!
T/F - good or bad, any exertion of our mental effort reduces the overall supply
True!
What is meant by we only have one stock / well for mental energy?
All activities draw from the same reservoir of mental effort.
If we use our entre brain does it take a lot of energy like a overloaded, gas guzzling car going uphill?
Yes!
How does the brain conserve mental energy?
It finds shortcuts and looks for patterns.
When we recognize a pattern our brains stop thinking to conserve energy.
Our default thinking is also known as?
System 1 - Fast Thinking
T/F - Pattern seeking, familiarity, making associations, and jumping to conclusion requires A LOT of mental energy?
False. this is part of fast thinking (system 1)
System 2 (slow thinking) involves drawing on past experiences, present assumptions, and apparent patterns?
False, is is part of system 1 (fast thinking) to have cognitive ease
T/F - Heuristics are used for decision making shortcuts?
True, this is part of system 1 (fast thinking).
Why are heuristics a problem?
They lead us to ignore vital pieces of information and misunderstand things
When we make judgements based on readily available information it is what heuristic?
Availability heuristic (i.e. do things that others do)
When we make judgements that feel right and are emotionally laden it is what heuristic?
Affect heuristic
T/F - Being open minded, conducting slow careful thinking, considering new material does NOT require much mental effort
False. It requires a lot of mental effort and is part of system 2 (slow thinking)
What is meant by outsourcing your brain?
Don’t use your brain for things that can be written down elsewhere.
How can the environment cue or nudge us in a certain direction?
The environment can shape the behavior we want, for example putting walking shoes by the door (a good nudge)
