The Naïve Mind

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Sometimes what you don’t know can help you.

The naïve mind asks questions that test widely held assumptions. The naïve mind dares to ask the stupid questions, not even realizing they might be stupid. The naïve mind makes abstract conclusions that someone steeped in the problem can’t see or hear – not because of being closed-minded, but because the human brain excels at seeking out data that fits established patterns – data that fits with what it already knows. Keep reading »

Forget Your Troubles

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A century ago British psychologist Edward Titchener described the “warm glow of familiarity,” the idea that people develop a preference for things that are familiar to them. There’s been a fair amount of research on the Exposure Effect, how repetition increases the likelihood of affinity.

But then there’s always the old adage: familiarity breeds contempt.

Which is it? Does familiarity make you like something, or not? Keep reading »

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