I'm obsessed with cognitive biases. A "cognitive bias" is a built-...
Genius Thinking@GeniusGTX
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May 06, 2026
~3 min read
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I'm obsessed with cognitive biases.
A "cognitive bias" is a built-in glitch in our brain that quietly sabotages good decisions.
These are the 11 craziest and most dangerous cognitive biases I've found: 👇
1. The Cobra Effect
A "cognitive bias" is a built-in glitch in our brain that quietly sabotages good decisions.
These are the 11 craziest and most dangerous cognitive biases I've found: 👇
1. The Cobra Effect
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1. Cobra Effect
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
e.g. A government paying bounties for dead cobras, prompting people to breed them for cash.
A solution can make the original problem worse.
Look at second-order consequences.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
e.g. A government paying bounties for dead cobras, prompting people to breed them for cash.
A solution can make the original problem worse.
Look at second-order consequences.
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2. The Gell-Mann Amnesia Effect:
You spot 10 glaring errors in news about your industry.
You turn the page and blindly trust the article on foreign policy.
A liar in one domain is rarely a saint in another. Guard your gullibility.
You spot 10 glaring errors in news about your industry.
You turn the page and blindly trust the article on foreign policy.
A liar in one domain is rarely a saint in another. Guard your gullibility.
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3. Parkinson’s Law of Triviality:
A committee spends 45 mins arguing over the color of a bike shed, but approves a $10M plant in 3 mins.
Fools argue over pennies while hemorrhaging dollars.
Master the major, ignore the minor.
A committee spends 45 mins arguing over the color of a bike shed, but approves a $10M plant in 3 mins.
Fools argue over pennies while hemorrhaging dollars.
Master the major, ignore the minor.
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If you want to stop overthinking, outsmart chaos, and navigate life with the ruthless clarity...
You need the right mental models.
I put together a free complete playbook to build an unbreakable mind and master reality here: 👇
besuperhuman.gumroad.com/l/mentalmodels
You need the right mental models.
I put together a free complete playbook to build an unbreakable mind and master reality here: 👇
besuperhuman.gumroad.com/l/mentalmodels
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4. The Semmelweis Reflex:
The knee-jerk rejection of new evidence because it contradicts established norms.
Pride makes us deaf to truth. A closed mind is a dying mind.
The knee-jerk rejection of new evidence because it contradicts established norms.
Pride makes us deaf to truth. A closed mind is a dying mind.
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5. Illusion of Transparency:
We vastly overestimate how well other people can read our internal mental states.
You suffer more in imagination than in reality.
Speak up, because nobody is reading your mind.
We vastly overestimate how well other people can read our internal mental states.
You suffer more in imagination than in reality.
Speak up, because nobody is reading your mind.
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6. The Peltzman Effect:
Better seatbelts make for more reckless drivers.
When safety measures are introduced, people subconsciously take more risks.
The shield creates the careless sword.
Better seatbelts make for more reckless drivers.
When safety measures are introduced, people subconsciously take more risks.
The shield creates the careless sword.
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7. Illusion of Asymmetric Insight:
You are entirely convinced you understand your peers better than they understand you.
We judge ourselves by our complex motives, and others by their simple actions.
Stay humble.
You are entirely convinced you understand your peers better than they understand you.
We judge ourselves by our complex motives, and others by their simple actions.
Stay humble.
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8. The Ostrich Effect:
Avoiding dangerous or negative information by simply ignoring it.
i.e. Refusing to check your bank account when you're broke.
What you refuse to look at will eventually swallow you.
Pain is temporary, but ignorance is fatal.
Avoiding dangerous or negative information by simply ignoring it.
i.e. Refusing to check your bank account when you're broke.
What you refuse to look at will eventually swallow you.
Pain is temporary, but ignorance is fatal.
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9. Base Rate Fallacy:
Ignoring statistical probability in favor of a compelling emotional narrative.
Ignoring the 90% startup failure rate because "my idea is different."
Stories move hearts, but statistics reveal the truth. Respect the baseline.
Ignoring statistical probability in favor of a compelling emotional narrative.
Ignoring the 90% startup failure rate because "my idea is different."
Stories move hearts, but statistics reveal the truth. Respect the baseline.
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If you want to stop overthinking, outsmart chaos, and navigate life with the ruthless clarity...
You need the right mental models.
I put together a free complete playbook to build an unbreakable mind and master reality here: 👇
besuperhuman.gumroad.com/l/mentalmodels
You need the right mental models.
I put together a free complete playbook to build an unbreakable mind and master reality here: 👇
besuperhuman.gumroad.com/l/mentalmodels
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10. Rosy Retrospection:
Nostalgia is a liar.
Your brain heavily edits your memories, making the past seem vastly superior to the present.
The "good old days" were never as good as you remember.
The only golden age is the one you build today.
Nostalgia is a liar.
Your brain heavily edits your memories, making the past seem vastly superior to the present.
The "good old days" were never as good as you remember.
The only golden age is the one you build today.
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11. The Shirky Principle:
Complex institutions unconsciously try to preserve the exact problem they are designed to solve, simply to maintain their own existence.
Never trust the rat-catcher to exterminate all the rats. Incentives drive everything.
Complex institutions unconsciously try to preserve the exact problem they are designed to solve, simply to maintain their own existence.
Never trust the rat-catcher to exterminate all the rats. Incentives drive everything.
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Thank you for reading this thread.
What’s your ONE big takeaway from this story?
Follow me @GeniusGTX for more threads about the hidden brilliance of ancient civilizations.
Like/Repost the first tweet below to share the wisdom. ↓
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What’s your ONE big takeaway from this story?
Follow me @GeniusGTX for more threads about the hidden brilliance of ancient civilizations.
Like/Repost the first tweet below to share the wisdom. ↓
x.com/16167179584110…
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Grab a free copy here to upgrade your thinking:
besuperhuman.gumroad.com/l/mentalmodels
5,000+ downloads. 113 five-star reviews.
Grab a free copy here to upgrade your thinking:
besuperhuman.gumroad.com/l/mentalmodels