Genius Thinking Profile picture
Feb 3, 2024 16 tweets 5 min read Read on X
A "cognitive bias" is a systematic error in thinking that ruins decision-making.

The 12 most powerful cognitive biases I've found: Image
Parkinson's Law: work expands to fill the time given.

When we have more time, we tend to procrastinate and become inefficient.

A good reminder to track your tasks duration and energy level. Image
Goodhart's Law:

When a measure becomes a goal, it stops being a good measure.

I.g: Exams and standard admission shifted the focus of education.

It's no longer about the students, but about grades and pay. Image
The Curse of Knowledge:

Experts assume everyone knows what they know.

But they struggle to teach or lead effectively for those still learning.

Simplicity is an art. Image
The Bandwagon Effect:

We humans are social creatures, which has its benefits.

But there's a downside too...

We often follow the crowd without thinking, just because everyone else is doing it.

Beware of the Bandwagon Effect, it's like "groupthink" and can be risky. Image
Egocentric Bias:

We tend to think more highly of ourselves than we should.

In group activities, we overestimate our contributions compared to others. Image
Cynicism

"Cynical people may seem smarter, but research suggests they're actually less intelligent.

Deep cynicism is a defense mechanism (may results in neuroticism), not a sign of true intelligent.

Moderate dose advised. Image
Skinner's Law:

• When procrastinating, you have 2 choices:

1. Make not doing it more painful than doing it.

2. Make doing it more enjoyable than not doing it. Image
Hofstadter's Law:

Projects always take longer and cost more than you expect, even when you consider Hofstadter's Law.

Double the time, triple the cost—despite your best calculations. Image
Elon's Law:

Beat Hofstadter's Law with an insanely ambitious deadline. Even if it takes 3x longer, you're still ahead of the game.

Elon Musk missing his super deadlines is a feature, not a bug. Image
Loss Aversion

Discovered by scientists Tversky and Kahneman, it reveals that the pain of losing is stronger than the pleasure of winning.

As a result, humans will go to greater lengths to avoid losses than to pursue gains. Image
Hitchen's Razor:

Claims without evidence can't be verified. When in doubt, clarify and ask for proof. Image
The Discomfort Zone Razor:

Embrace discomfort for growth.

Seek comfort and for stagnation.

1000 uncomfortable hours > 10,000 comfortable hours. Image
Occam's Razor:

• Simple assumptions are often right.

• Don't overcomplicate things with too many assumptions. Image
If you want my collection of mental models, cognitive biases, and cognitive tendencies, grab a copy of my product here:

feynmanism.gumroad.com/l/mentalmodels
If you enjoyed this content, consider giving @feynmanism a follow and check out my Feynman Technique Notion template:

feynmanism.gumroad.com/l/feynmantechn…

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More from @GeniusGTX

Mar 31
In 1932, the US govt. began secretly watching black men die of a curable disease.

For 40 years:
• They stayed quiet
• Studied them like lab rats.
• Withheld cure (found in 1947)

This is one of America's most disturbing experiments. Welcome to Tuskegee Experiment:🧵 Image
Image
In 1932, the U.S. Public Health Service recruited 600 African American men in Macon County, Alabama for a study they called "bad blood."

399 had latent syphilis. 201 were healthy controls... Image
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They were never told the real purpose: to observe untreated syphilis until death.

The men were poor sharecroppers, many unable to read or write.

Researchers offered free medical exams, meals, and burial insurance to participate... Image
Image
Read 19 tweets
Mar 28
This man:

• Fooled the US Navy
• Impersonated 47 different people.
• Performed REAL surgeries without a medical degree,

His deceptions made him one of human history's most fascinating con men.

But most people never understood his motivation...🧵 Image
Born in 1921 in Massachusetts, Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr. grew up in wealth.

Then, the Great Depression hit...
His family lost everything.

At 16, Demara ran away from home, setting the stage for a life built entirely on lies... Image
Read 15 tweets
Mar 27
In 300 BC, Roman engineers pulled off the greatest feat in ancient engineering history:

They built a 400,000 km road network that connected 3 continents by hand.

This is what they meant by "All roads lead to Rome"... (THREAD)🧵 Image
Image
Roman roads were tools of conquest.

When Rome expanded, the first thing they built wasn’t temples or forums—it was roads.
Roads gave them three things: speed, control, and power.

They were the empire’s most vital infrastructure...

Rome’s road network spanned 400,000 km, with 80,500 km paved in stone. Image
Read 18 tweets
Mar 26
This is John White.

He led 115 English settlers to establish America's first colony.

When he returned 3 years later, everyone and everything had disappeared.

What he found next would become America's oldest unsolved mystery:🧵 Image
But the real story begins earlier - with a desperate gamble that would change history forever...

In 1584, Sir Walter Raleigh sent a reconnaissance expedition across the Atlantic to find the perfect spot for England's first permanent colony.

But why? Image
Image
Spain had already colonized much of North America.

England needed to establish its presence - and fast.

But what they found would lead them straight into a deadly trap...
Read 29 tweets
Mar 18
In 1979, humanity was on the brink of extinction when 250 Soviet missiles were approaching America...

JFK and all US Military intelligence systems indicated a full-scale NUCLEAR WAR.

Then Zbigniew Brzezinski made ONE decision that rewrote history forever: 🧵 Image
Image
3:00 AM, November 9th, 1979.

Brzezinski, President Carter's National Security Advisor, was awakened by a phone call:

"Sir, our computers are showing 250 Soviet ICBMs heading towards the United States.

We need an immediate response decision." Image
The situation was horrifying:

• NORAD's most advanced computers all confirmed the attack
• Early warning systems were triggering across the board
• Multiple redundant systems showed the same data
• They had just minutes to respond before impact Image
Read 15 tweets
Mar 17
This was Winston Churchill's darkest WWII secret.

Inside this bunker, 6 men were voluntarily buried alive to spy on Hitler's forces.

Exiled from the world with only 7 years of supplies, their story was classified for decades.

Welcome to Operation Tracer: 🧵 Image
By 1940, Europe was in chaos:

- France had fallen.
- Italy joined Hitler.
- Britain stood alone.

Gibraltar, controlling access to the Mediterranean, became crucial.

Losing it would cripple British supply routes and weaken the Allies... Image
Image
Churchill's response was radical:

Build a hidden observation post inside the Rock of Gibraltar.

Station six men inside.
Entomb them if necessary.

Their mission? To watch and report Axis movements—no matter the cost. Image
Image
Read 24 tweets

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