Book Byte #72 "The Intelligence Trap" by David Robson
Why Smart People Make Dumb Mistakes
📣 Curious Quotes from the Author
“Intelligent and educated people are less likely to learn from their mistakes, for instance, or take advice from others. And when they do err, they are better able to build elaborate arguments to justify their reasoning, meaning that they become more and more dogmatic in their views. Worst still, they appear to have a bigger "bias blind spot," meaning they are less able to recognize the holes in their logic.”
“Hans Eysenck. “Scientists, especially when they leave the particular field in which they are specialized, are just as ordinary, pig-headed, and unreasonable as everybody else,” he wrote in the 1950s. “And their unusually high intelligence only makes their prejudices all the more dangerous.”
“The same qualities that will make you learn more productively also make you reason more wisely, and vice versa.”
📚 Cognition of the Book’s Big Idea:
High intelligence does not always prevent irrational thinking or bad decision-making; in fact, it can occasionally contribute to these issues. Fortunately, embracing intellectual humility, examining diverse perspectives, and acknowledging our biases can considerably increase our ability to reason wisely and make sound decisions. This is critical in a world riddled with disinformation and hoaxes, as well as correcting a Western education system that does not adequately prepare pupils for success.
🛠️Fixing the Tech Industry
Success has been elusive my whole life. I’ve been way more successful helping other people become a success than I ever was helping myself. There’s a lesson there. It might be that you only become successful when you realize you deserve it and prove it to yourself when you finally declare it’s your turn.
So I ask you, is it your turn yet? Or should you spend more time in the job or position your in so you can feel even more comfortable?
🤝Collaborate with others with this Social Media Prompt:
Intelligence can be an inhibitor, especially when taking action out of the equation. What can you do when you spend too much time trying to outsmart a problem instead of solving it?
Join our Private Career Progression Community Below