Wellness Calendar: Friday 7 March

Recognising our biases
We see what we want to see. Hermann Rorschach carried out tests where people were shown random inkblots. From these images people saw all kinds of different shapes and objects.
We hear what we want to hear. An example of this is the ‘cocktail party effect’ where despite noises coming from everywhere we can filter out the noises we don’t want - and focus on the sounds we do want. We are especially good at listening for our own name being called out.
We seek out information that fits with our values and beliefs, and discard the rest. An example of this is confirmation bias theory, which suggests that we all tend to be a “yes man” or a “creep” to ourselves: we would rather avoid being wrong than be open to new ideas or be open to the fact we could be wrong.
We make up our own stories. Everyone has a story to tell. It’s neither here nor there how strictly factual it is.
We make up our own reality. If we didn’t make up our own reality, which reality would we choose, given that everyone else has a different reality from the next person.
We make up our own truth. If we followed other people’s truth as well as our own, we’d still have our version of the other person’s truth.
We need to prove ourselves right. We get out of bed and stub our toe. We charge down the stairs with a groan. “What is up with you?” someone asks. You reply: “I’ve got out the bed the wrong side.” From there on, once you’ve decided that the day is going to be a write-off, you will prove yourself right. You’re going to have a miserable day – no matter what.
What do you think of all of this? Is there anything we can do with this knowledge in relation to our own wellness?