When asked to come up an idea our brains tend to go to what we already know and use it as the basis for generating that new idea. This limits our thinking and means the first idea we have is usually the most obvious rather than the best. The neurologist David Eagleman says that there’s a scientific reason for this. It’s called the Einstellung effect and it occurs where our pre-existing knowledge impedes our ability to reach an optimal solution. We become unable to consider other solutions when we think we already have a one, even though it may not be the best solution possible.
Our first ideas are the worst
Our first ideas are the worst
Our first ideas are the worst
When asked to come up an idea our brains tend to go to what we already know and use it as the basis for generating that new idea. This limits our thinking and means the first idea we have is usually the most obvious rather than the best. The neurologist David Eagleman says that there’s a scientific reason for this. It’s called the Einstellung effect and it occurs where our pre-existing knowledge impedes our ability to reach an optimal solution. We become unable to consider other solutions when we think we already have a one, even though it may not be the best solution possible.