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Identifying the 'shortcuts' our brains take and how they can lead to misunderstandings.
Have you ever seen a friend walking toward you with a frown and thought, 'Oh no, they're mad at me!' only to find out they just had a really sour piece of candy? Your brain just took a shortcut—and it was wrong!
Our brains are incredibly busy. To save time, they use assumptions—which are like mental shortcuts. An assumption is something we believe to be true without having actual proof. For example, if you see a teacher carrying a stack of papers, you might assume there is a surprise pop quiz. Your brain is trying to be helpful by predicting the future, but these shortcuts can often lead to misunderstandings. In philosophy, we call this 'jumping to conclusions.' To be a clear thinker, you have to learn how to spot these shortcuts before they trip you up.
Quick Check
In your own words, what is an assumption?
Answer
An assumption is something we believe is true even though we don't have proof yet.
To catch an assumption, you must know the difference between a fact and an inference. A fact is something that can be proven with evidence (e.g., 'The thermometer says '). An inference is a guess you make based on that fact (e.g., 'It is freezing outside, so I will need a coat'). While inferences are often useful, they aren't always certain. If the thermometer is broken, your inference is based on a false fact! We must always look for the 'hidden' part of our logic: the part we haven't actually seen yet.
1. The Fact: You see Sam sitting at the lunch table with no food. 2. The Inference: You think, 'Sam forgot his lunch at home.' 3. The Hidden Assumption: You are assuming Sam hasn't already eaten or isn't waiting for a hot lunch from the cafeteria.
Quick Check
If you see a wet umbrella by the door, is 'It is raining outside' a fact or an inference?
Answer
It is an inference. The fact is the umbrella is wet; the rain is a guess based on that fact.
How do we stop ourselves from making bad assumptions? We use a strategy called Pause and Pivot.
1. Pause: When you feel a strong emotion (like being worried or annoyed), stop for a second. 2. Identify the Fact: Ask yourself, 'What do I actually see or hear right now?' 3. Pivot: Ask, 'What are three other possible reasons for this?'
By forcing your brain to come up with multiple answers, you break the 'shortcut' and open your mind to the truth.
1. Scenario: You sent a message to a friend two hours ago and they haven't replied. 2. The Assumption: 'They are ignoring me because they are mad.' 3. The Pivot: - Possibility A: Their phone battery died (). - Possibility B: They are at soccer practice. - Possibility C: They saw it but got distracted by dinner.
Imagine you are in a group of students. One student, Alex, hasn't done any work. 1. The Fact: Alex has contributed slides to the presentation. 2. The Assumption: Alex is lazy and doesn't care about the grade. 3. The Strategy: Before getting angry, you Pause. You Pivot by asking Alex if they understand the instructions or if they have internet access at home. You might find out the 'lazy' assumption was totally wrong!
Which of these is a FACT?
Why does the brain use assumptions?
True or False: An inference is always 100% true.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, try to remember the three steps of the 'Pause and Pivot' strategy. Can you name them?
Practice Activity
Watch a scene from your favorite movie. Identify one time a character makes an assumption about someone else. What was the fact, and what was their shortcut?