Think Slow… Especially Online!

I want to start this blog post with a simple word problem…(some of you may know this one. 😉)

• At a local sporting goods store, a Bat and a Baseball cost a total of $1.10
• The Bat costs one dollar more than the Ball
• How much does the Ball cost?

The answer is 10 cents, right?  Let’s do the math…

If the Ball costs 10 cents and the Bat costs one dollar more than the ball, that means the Bat costs $1.10.  When purchased together, this would put the total cost at $1.20.  Hmmm… well that’s not right. 

The correct answer is that the ball actually costs five cents and the bat costs $1.05 ($0.05 + $1.00), which, together, adds up to $1.10.

If you answered correctly, you most likely resisted the urge to answer impulsively and instead used your executive function skills to really think through the problem before responding. Either that or you have read Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman (2005).

If you, like me, thought that ten cents was the easy and obvious answer to this puzzle, you are in good company… So did the majority of Havard students in a 2005 study (Frederick, 2005).  In fact, some argue that Kahneman himself is guilty of not “thinking slow” and taking time to thoroughly investigate the validity of several studies he cites in his book (Engber, 2016).

Nevertheless, Kahneman’s (2005) Bat and Ball Example sheds light on how our initial, sometimes impulsive responses to a problem may be far less accurate than a reflective response that requires time and cognitive effort. In the 21st Century, we can apply this approach to maintaining a professional online reputation, which is essential to build trust with those we seek to serve as educators.

Thinking Fast and Slow goes into great detail explaining the complicated nature of our human brains and thought processes (Kahneman, 2005). While I am barely scraping the surface of the insights found in this book, I find there to be a profound connection between helping students build strong executive function skills and using our own EF abilities when it comes to maintaining a reputable and professional online reputation.  When we quickly create or comment on an online post, we are most likely acting impulsively and emotionally, which can lead to unintended consequences for ourselves and others.  Developing and practicing impulse control and emotional regulation are not only key components of our Executive Function Curriculum, but they are also essential skills needed to engage empathically and respectfully in any and all of our online interactions. 

In today’s social media climate, often filled with polarizing views and opinions, it is easy for us to think fast and respond impulsively.  When you find yourself in this situation, think back to the Bat and the Ball Example and remind yourself that thinking slow and responding reflectively and thoughtfully will help you to maintain a positive online reputation built on trust, professionalism, and respect. 

References

Engber, D. (2016, December 21). The irony effect: How the scientist who founded the science of mistakes ended up mistaken. Slate. https://slate.com/technology/2016/12/kahneman-and-tversky-researched-the-science-of-error-and-still-made-errors.html

Frederick, S. (2005). Cognitive reflection and decision making. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 19 (4): 25–42. https://pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1257/089533005775196732

Kahneman, D. (2005). Thinking, fast and slow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.