![Cognitive Rigidity: 5 Lessons to build a flexible mind - [Cognitive Biases #6]](https://cdn.podme.com/podcast-images/FD0721E41035A86A73FBA11D789B562E_small.jpg)
Cognitive Rigidity: 5 Lessons to build a flexible mind - [Cognitive Biases #6]
How to master cognitive flexibility by understanding the biases that keep you stuck. In WWI, generals sent horses against machine guns. Cognitive Rigidity mean they couldn't reimagine the battlefield. In this episode, I break down the five mental traps keeping you stuck. We look at why you value your own bad ideas more than good ones (The Endowment Effect) and why you can’t stop scrolling TikTok instead of working (Hyperbolic Discounting). We even cover why Einstein—the genius of flexibility—eventually got stuck in his ways and rejected quantum mechanics. Actionable Takeaways: Reimagine the tool: Don't ask what it is, ask what it could be to overcome functional fixedness. Question the crowd: The Bandwagon Effect offers safety, not truth; dare to be the outlier. Respect the future: Overcome the urge for immediate gratification by empathizing with your future self. Choose to see the world differently and open the door to possibility. SPONSORS 👨💻 NordLayer Security across your business 28% off: GROWTHMINDSET-28 http://nordlayer.com/growthmindset 🎓 MasterClass Learn from the best, to become your best Up to 50% off code: GrowthMindset www.MasterClass.com/GrowthMindset NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 --- UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset CHAPTERS 00:00 A Personal Story of Cognitive Rigidity 03:48 Defining Cognitive Rigidit 04:54 Functional Fixedness 09:37 Overcoming Functional Fixedness 11:01 The Endowment Effect 15:07 Overcoming the Endowment Effect 16:32 The Bandwagon Effect 20:29 Understanding Hyperbolic Discounting 25:14 Einstein's Personal Struggles and Successes 29:26 The Zeigarnik Effect: Unfinished Tasks and Obsession 33:55 Relationships and Social Media: The Open Loop Trap 38:32 Einstein's Journey: Genius and Cognitive Biases 40:51 Embracing Growth and Self-Acceptance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
12 Des 44min
![The Illusion of Control: 7 Ways we lie to ourselves that even defeated Napoleon - [Cognitive Biases #5]](https://cdn.podme.com/podcast-images/9BB1DBE710FCBCA583330660389582F7_small.jpg)
The Illusion of Control: 7 Ways we lie to ourselves that even defeated Napoleon - [Cognitive Biases #5]
How the mind blinds us to reality by showing us what we want to believe. We don't see with our eyes; we see with our stories. In 1951, psychologists proved that fans from opposing teams physically saw different fouls during the same game. This is the power and danger of perception. It is the tension between what is real and what we believe is possible. When a doctor gives a patient a placebo, the patient heals not because of medicine, but because of the story of the medicine. In this episode, we explore the cognitive biases that shape our culture and our work. From the "Baader-Meinhof" phenomenon to the tragedy of Napoleon’s retreat, we examine how our perceptions limit our possibilities. Actionable Takeaways: Change the narrative: Use the Placebo Effect to create positive outcomes through the power of expectation. See the system: Recognize how the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon highlights opportunities you previously ignored. Reframing value: Use the Contrast Effect to understand how relative comparison dictates the worth of your work. Go make a ruckus by changing how you choose to see the world around you. SPONSORS 👨💻 NordLayer Security across your business 28% off: GROWTHMINDSET-28 http://nordlayer.com/growthmindset 🎓 MasterClass Learn from the best, to become your best Up to 50% off code: GrowthMindset www.MasterClass.com/GrowthMindset NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 --- UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset CHAPTERS 00:00 The Historic Football Game 01:35 Selective Perception in Politics 02:26 Reality Distortion Fields 04:13 Napoleon's Rise and Fall 05:58 The Exposure Effect 09:06 The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon 11:26 The Placebo Effect 15:57 The Illusion of Control 19:04 Napoleon's Russian Campaign 21:29 The Clustering Illusion 25:34 The Contrast Effect 30:03 Reflections on Cognitive Biases 33:09 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9 Des 36min
![Why You Make Bad Decisions: Confirmation Bias and the 7 Sins of Lazy Thinking [Cognitive Biases #4]](https://cdn.podme.com/podcast-images/3804BB9B3A4E40D8F22AE9D6CC50A088_small.jpg)
Why You Make Bad Decisions: Confirmation Bias and the 7 Sins of Lazy Thinking [Cognitive Biases #4]
How to make smarter decisions that improve your life by understanding your mind and it's hidden psychology. We are all storytelling creatures, desperate to fit the world into a narrative that makes sense to us. Thus, we build echo chambers not because we are stupid, but because we are afraid. The Confirmation Bias is a shield against the discomfort of being wrong. The Availability Bias shapes our worldview based on the loudest stories, not the most important facts. This episode reviews 7 cognitive biases the explore the friction between what is comfortable and what is true. Learning helps us build tools for the art of long-term thinking in a short-term world. Audit your inputs: Step outside your algorithmic feed to find the friction of opposing views. Reframe the risk: Turn "Black Swan" surprises into "White Swan" predictions by analyzing the unsexy data. Choose commitment: Overcome the paralysis of infinite choice by making a "good enough" decision and sticking to it. Go make a ruckus by choosing to think clearly today. SPONSORS 👨💻 NordStellar Security across your business 20% off: BLACKFRIDAY-20 (valid before 10th Dec) 10% off: GROWTHMINDSET-10 nordstellar.com/growthmindset NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 --- UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset CHAPTERS 00:00 The Confirmation Bias 04:14 The Availability Bias 07:08 The Neglect of Probability Bias 09:12 Black Swan vs. White Swan Events 11:00 The Hindsight Bias 13:47 The Outcome Bias 16:15 The Paradox of Choice Bias 18:56 The Time Discounting Bias 21:10 Becoming More Rational Thinkers 22:14 Wrap Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
5 Des 25min
![Ego Blindspots: Common cognitive distortions of the self - [Cognitive Biases #2]](https://cdn.podme.com/podcast-images/D79B74677A6E9240E36D7E56DE545FF0_small.jpg)
Ego Blindspots: Common cognitive distortions of the self - [Cognitive Biases #2]
Ever caught yourself defending a dumb idea just to look smart? That's your ego controlling your brain. Cognitive biases and ego team up to screw your decisions daily. Picture this: confirmation bias has you cherry-picking facts that stroke your self-image, while ego whispers you're too smart for mistakes. Spot the traps like Dunning-Kruger (overestimating skill) or sunk cost fallacy (throwing good money after bad). Takehomes: Point at one bias daily: "Am I ignoring counter-evidence like a muscly Irishman blocking the door?" Test decisions: Can you drop it on your foot? If abstract, make it concrete now. Audit ego weekly: List three "wins" that were actually luck—kill the illusion. Hit play and arm yourself against yourself today. SPONSORS 👨💻 NordStellar Security across your business 20% off: BLACKFRIDAY-20 (valid before 10th Dec) 10% off: GROWTHMINDSET-10 nordstellar.com/growthmindset NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 --- UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset CHAPTERS 00:00 Spotlight Effect 02:07 Dunning Kruger Effect 04:25 Status Quo Bias 06:13 Curse of Knowledge 08:04 Cognitive Dissonance 10:17 The Halo Effect 13:54 Fundamental Attribution Error 16:01 Actor-Observer Bias 17:20 Self-Serving Bias 19:42 Hostile Attribution Bias 23:30 Don't blame other peoples behaviours 24:09 Don't get lost in our own world 27:09 These Biases exist for a reason 28:20 Don't get easily offended 29:01 Send Off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
28 Nov 32min
Thinking Fast and Slow: How to make better decisions and avoid hidden mind traps
You think you're rational? Think again. We love feeling like thoughtful decision-makers, but the truth is we're riddled with cognitive shortcuts. Daniel Kahneman's Nobel Prize-winning work breaks down the systems of our mind. We constantly substitute hard questions with easy ones; e.g. Buying a stock because you like the company, not because you've done the data. This episode cuts through the 300,000-word book to show you exactly how these shortcuts lead to everything from bad investments to pointless stress about the weather. It's time to stop letting your brain’s simple tricks run your whole life. Stop overestimating the importance of your current stress. Identify and reduce low-level daily pains (like a bad commute) for massive life returns. Implement a "sleep-on-it" rule to override System 1's instant commitments. Why let a lazy brain ruin your best decisions? Start thinking slower today. Further Reading: Thinking Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman Predictably Irrational - Dan Ariely SPONSORS 👨💻 NordStellar Security across your business 20% off: BLACKFRIDAY-20 (valid before 10th Dec) 10% off: GROWTHMINDSET-10 nordstellar.com/growthmindset 📚 ShortForm Book summaries of the worlds best books Free trail and 20% off code: Psychology https://www.ShortForm.com/Psychology NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 --- UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset CHAPTERS 00:00 Understanding Cognitive Biases, comedy and systems of thinking 03:58 Deep Dive into System One and System Two Thinking 05:23 How System 1 and System 2 Work Together 06:49 System 1's Impact on Decision Making 08:26 System 1 and Politics 11:29 The Teenage Brain and System 2 Development 12:32 Cognitive Biases and Their Impact 17:45 The Law of Large Numbers 22:38 Prospect Theory, Risk Assessment and Loss Aversion 23:41 Rationality and Utility Theory in Economics 25:39 Prospect Theory: Perception of Value and Risk 27:16 Probability and Decision Making 29:29 The Experiencing Self vs. The Remembering Self 31:17 The Peak-End Rule and Its Impact on Memory 34:58 Momentary Pleasure vs Long-Term Satisfaction 38:09 The Focusing Illusion: What Really Matters 43:46 Final Thoughts and Recommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
25 Nov 50min
Who are you VS. Who do you want to be? - How to align your actions with your desires
We can try all the things: new habits, different mindsets, therapy, medication, or god save us... self-help books. Yet to no ones surprise: we don't wake up a different person, we don't start doing all the things we keep saying we will eventually do, we don't even lose weight... What is the deal? Are we broken? Is there a way to fix ourselves? It all comes down to a single question. Who are you VS. Who do you want to be? Thoroughly confused, conflicted and curious. Sam sets out into the realms of psychology and philosophy to consider motivation from different angles. Learn: - What do you actually want to do VS What do you want to have done - How to align your current actions with who you want to be - Why Sam still leaves clothes all over the floor like a big 35 year old baby... Journal prompts - Free notes SPONSORS 👨💻 NordLayer Security across your business 28% off: GROWTHMINDSET-28 http://nordlayer.com/growthmindset 🎓 MasterClass Learn from the best, to become your best Up to 50% off code: GrowthMindset https://www.MasterClass.com/GrowthMindset NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights. Found on all major podcast players: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 --- UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset 📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset CHAPTERS 00:00 The Two Competing Wants 01:54 Desires as Contracts for Unhappiness 04:09 The Formula for Action 04:45 Finding the Right Level of Challenge 07:02 Discovering Your Path 09:20 Redefining Sacrifice 11:22 Making Tasks Easier 13:14 Simplifying and Prioritizing 15:00 Money vs Happiness Balance 16:32 Aligning Desires with Actions 17:34 Send Off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
21 Nov 20min
The Hidden Psychology of Black Friday - How do shops manipulate us (and make calm aunties fist-fight over PlayStations)?
Inner Peace vs Retail Rage - How do shops design our experience to remove our decisions and make us to FOMO into all sorts of weird situations? This episode peels back the slick banners and countdown timers to show the tiny psychological tricks that turn shoppers into hunters. Scarcity, anchoring, and anticipation aren’t marketing buzzwords — they’re brain hacks. Retailers riff off ancient instincts: spot a rare fruit, grab it. Online, those instincts run on caffeine and fast clicks. The result? We chase status, reassurance, and an imagined better life via objects. Three actionable takeaways: Pause 24 hours before you buy to let impulse die. Flag “true needs” vs “story purchases” in a list. Reframe purchases as stories you’ll tell later. SPONSORS 👨💻 NordLayer Security across your business 28% off: GROWTHMINDSET-28 http://nordlayer.com/growthmindset 🎓 MasterClass Learn from the best, to become your best Up to 50% off code: GrowthMindset www.MasterClass.com/GrowthMindset NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights. Found on all major podcast players: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 --- UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset 📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset CHAPTERS 00:00 The Contradiction of Black Friday 00:42 A Brief History of Black Friday 01:02 The Psychology Behind Sales 06:28 The Power of Anticipation 06:47 The Perfect Storm of Psychological Triggers 07:57 Case Studies of Black Friday Madness 09:18 The Dark Side of Black Friday 09:41 The Role of Deindividuation and Competition 10:15 Social Contagion and Polyvagal Theory 10:48 Acts of Kindness Amidst the Chaos 12:19 Cyber Monday and Online Shopping 12:44 The Shift to Online Shopping 16:26 The Environmental Cost of Black Friday 18:32 Global Perspectives on Black Friday 18:44 Black Friday in Brazil and France 19:40 Singles Day in China 20:18 Human Nature Revealed by Black Friday 20:31 The Irrationality of Value 21:35 The Social Dynamics of Black Friday 22:18 Final Thoughts on Black Friday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
18 Nov 28min
