Threshold bias

Notes

Claim

We give greater importance when something passes a threshold even when reality is continuous and not discrete Progress and change follow non-linear trajectories with thresholds Binary thinking reduces complexity to false dichotomies.

Explanation

The threshold is a form of The first number sets the frame for all that follow. Once it is out there, we look at everything differently even though deep down we know it is completely arbitrary.

Why it matters

Examples

Turning 30 is much more meaningful than being 29 and 11 months. We would surely accept something that is free and avoid it if it costs 5 cents even though 5 cents is negligible. Similarly, converting something from 99% probability to 100% is much more valuable than from 95% to 96%.

Supporters

Opposers

Open questions

Visual

Overview

🔼Topic:: Simplification and Categorization 🔼Topic:: Decision Traps and Biases ↩️Origin:: 🔗Link:: Link