You could argue that LIFE is like a long game of blackjack. A common version of this is that each person is initially dealt two playing cards. The goal is to increase your hand to 21, or as close to this as possible without bursting. Players can either “stick” with their existing hand or “twist” it by requesting that they be dealt another card to add to their total. Of course, there is a risk of being eliminated over 21.
This may sound far from an everyday choice, but many of the most important decisions in our lives end up in dilemmas like this. Should I stay put or take the plunge and move? Should I keep my job or start my own business? Should I put up with an unsatisfying relationship or move on? Should I try love? In each case, we have to weigh the safety of what we have against riskier but potentially more valuable alternatives.
The uncertainty inherent in these dilemmas causes many of us to become paralyzed and stagnant in our analysis, ending up stuck in the status quo and never getting the chance to win big. In contrast, some people are easily swayed by the lure of new things. They are quick to gamble until they lose everything due to impulsive behavior. If any of these scenarios sound familiar, help may be on the way. Thanks to a greater understanding of our underlying cognitive biases and how to escape them, we now have evidence-based strategies to think more rationally about these difficulties and thus make life easier. Betting and playing is what gives us the most profit.
Article modified on March 19, 2024
The location of Possession Island has been revealed.
(Tag to translate) Psychology
