Reality Distortions: How 7 Illusions of Perception Impact Everyone (Especially Napoleon) - [#4 Cog Biases]

Cognitive biases distort reality with good and bad results (like really bad). Today is a fun experiment where we combine Psychology and History. We learn about the 7 perception-based illusions of Cognitive Biases whilst applying them to the life of Napoleon.

We understand how biases can be useful for us and lead us to greatness and how they can also be our downfall.

Cognitive biases covered:

Selective Perception - Why we see things how we want to see them

Exposure Effect - How repetition makes us likes stuff

Baader-Meinhof Effect - Why we notice our car everywhere after we buy it

Placebo Effect - How to make your leg being cut off less awful

Illusion of Control - Why you can't roll dice

Clustering Illusion - How we spot patterns that don't exist

Contrast Effect - Why comparison makes things awful but also wonderful

Further reading:

Napoleon The Great - Andrew Roberts - UK Book - US Book

Thinking Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman - UK Book - US Book

Predictably Irrational - Dan Ariely - UK Book - US Book

Further Listening Enjoyed this episode? Check out the rest of the Cognitive Ciases series:

Ego Blindspots: 9 Cognitive Biases to Avoid - [May 7th]

Human Nature vs. Money: Battling Irrationality & Thinking Traps [May 19th]

Confirmation Bias and the 7 Sins of Lazy Thinking - [June 4th]

[YOU ARE HERE] - Reality Distortion

Cognitive Rigidity and How Einstein Overcame the 5 Biases that Keep Us Stuck - [June 19th]

Thinking Fast and Slow: How to Make Better Decisions - [July 12th]

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Chapters: 00:00 Princeton Vs. Dartmouth 01:34 Selective Perception in Politics 02:26 Reality Distortion Fields 04:13 Napoleon's Rise and Fall 05:57 The Exposure Effect 09:06 The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon 11:24 The Placebo Effect 15:53 The Illusion of Control 18:59 Napoleon's Russian Campaign 21:25 The Clustering Illusion 25:29 The Contrast Effect 30:00 Reflections on Cognitive Biases 33:11 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action

Topics: overcoming selective perception for personal growth using the mere exposure effect to build positive habits Baader-Meinhof phenomenon and mindfulness practices applying the placebo effect to boost self-confidence illusion of control and decision making strategies clustering illusion impact on personal finance contrast effect in daily life and productivity psychology of mindset and cognitive biases cognitive biases and personal development improving decision making through understanding cognitive biases Napoleon cognitive biases analysis how Napoleon's decisions were influenced by biases cognitive biases in historical figures psychological analysis of Napoleon Bonaparte cognitive biases experiments and examples Napoleon Bonaparte decision making impact of cognitive biases on leadership psychological insights into Napoleon's strategies contrast effect in Napoleon's campaigns illusion of control in historical decisions mere exposure effect examples in history Baader-Meinhof phenomenon historical examples selective perception in Napoleon's battles clustering illusion and military strategy placebo effect in leadership confidence Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices