We All Use Cognitive Shortcuts to Form Beliefs

No one forms their beliefs in a purely rational, evidence-based manner. The world is too complex and information is too abundant for anyone to independently research and verify every single one of their convictions.

To navigate this complexity, all humans rely on a set of cognitive shortcuts, or heuristics. These include:

• Trusting Experts: We accept the authority of doctors, scientists, historians, and other specialists.
• Social Proof: We often adopt the beliefs of our family, friends, and community ("everyone else thinks so").
• Firsthand Testimony: We give weight to the stories and experiences of people we know ("my friend told me").
• Accepting Established Narratives: We are taught certain things as facts from a young age (e.g., the Earth is round, the Holocaust happened) and rarely, if ever, revisit the evidence for these foundational beliefs.

While these shortcuts are essential for functioning in the world, they also highlight the fact that many of our most deeply held beliefs are built on a foundation of trust and social consensus, not on rigorous personal investigation.

Recognizing this shared vulnerability is a crucial step in understanding misbelievers. They are often using the same types of cognitive shortcuts, but have simply placed their trust in different experts, different communities, and different narratives.

Tags: #psychology #cognition #belief #heuristics #social-proof #trust