Erroneous Thinking – Page 2 – How Do You Think?

Cognitive Conservatism, Moral Relativism, Bias, and Human Flourishing

by Gerald GuildErroneous Thinking, Morality, Politics, Rational Thought, Religion March 26, 2011January 18, 20242 Comments

I am a caring and compassionate man with deep concerns about humanity. Of utmost importance to me is the issue of human flourishing, which roughly translated, incorporates wellness, happiness, success, and adaptive functioning not only for the individual, but for society in general. Individual flourishing necessitates societal flourishing and vice versa. One does not rise …

Narrative Fallacy: A “Sign” of Cognitive Maturation

by Gerald GuildErroneous Thinking, Psychology, Rational Thought, supersense, Superstition March 20, 2011November 3, 20135 Comments

So really, what caused that earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan? A quick Google search posing this very question yields a wide range of answers. Fortunately a majority of the hits acknowledge and explain how plate tectonics caused this tragedy. Sprinkled throughout the scientifically accurate explanations are conspiracy theories suggesting that the US government caused …

Narrative Fallacy

by Gerald GuildAdaptive Unconscious, Erroneous Thinking, Evolution, Psychology, Rational Thought, Skepticism, Superstition March 13, 2011August 27, 20123 Comments

Evolution has conferred upon us a brain that is capable of truly amazing things. We have, for thousands of years, been capable of creating incredibly beautiful art, telling compelling tales, and building magnificent structures. We have risen from small and dispersed tribal bands to perhaps the dominate life force on the planet. Our feats have …

Everbody loves a good story – But enough is ENOUGH!

by Gerald GuildAutism, Environment, Erroneous Thinking, Morality, Politics, Psychology, Rational Thought, Religion, Science March 6, 2011September 26, 2012One Comment

We all love a good story. Children are mesmerized by them and adults, whether through books, TV, movies, sports, gossip, tabloids, or the news, to mention a few, constantly seek them out. It is core to our identity, and a vital part of our nature. It is both how we entertain ourselves, and how we …

Insane? What was he thinking?

by Gerald GuildErroneous Thinking, Politics, Psychology January 14, 2011December 22, 2012No Comments

Tragedies like the events of January 8th in Tuscan shake the nation. We grieve for the victims and struggle to make sense of it all. The dialogue that has followed the event is not surprising. People want and need to understand why a person would do such a thing. These events are mind boggling …

2010 – A Year in Review: How Do You Think?

by Gerald GuildAdaptive Unconscious, Autism, Erroneous Thinking, Evolution, Genetics, Happiness, Invisible Gorilla, Memory, Morality, Multitasking, Parenting, Placebo Effect, Politics, Psychology, Rational Thought, Religion, Science, Skepticism, Superstition January 5, 2011October 3, 20122 Comments

Have you ever heard someone make an argument that leaves you shaking your head in disbelief? Does it seem to you like some people are coming from a completely different reality than your own? If so, then this blog is for you. I have spent the last year trying to develop an understanding of the …

Nature Versus Nurture: Really?

by Gerald GuildErroneous Thinking, Genetics December 31, 2010November 3, 20133 Comments

As I read Steven Pinker’s book The Blank Slate: Modern Denial of Human Nature I was, for lack of a better word, flabbergasted, about the extent of acrimony that seemingly persists regarding the nature versus nurture debate. This parley, from my naive perspective, was over long ago. Yet Pinker detailed the extensive history to which …

Superstitious? It’s in your genes – It’s in your culture.

by Gerald GuildErroneous Thinking, Psychology, Rational Thought, Skepticism, supersense, Superstition October 30, 2010December 9, 20124 Comments

Halloween seems like an appropriate time to discuss superstition. What with ghosts and goblins and black cats and witches and all. But would not Easter or Christmas, or any other evening that a five year old loses a tooth be an equally appropriate time? In actuality, we massage magical thinking in our children with notions …

Are You a Robot? Can I Program Your Responses?

by Gerald GuildAdaptive Unconscious, Erroneous Thinking, Psychology October 23, 2010September 26, 20124 Comments

I’m sure you have heard of subliminal messages. You know that classic story where it was alleged that flashing the words DRINK COKE on a movie screen for a fraction of a second would increase cola buying behavior at the concession stand. Well, that was a hoax, but you should know that I can, in …

Do we all get a fair start?

by Gerald GuildErroneous Thinking, Politics, Poverty October 16, 2010December 9, 20126 Comments

I had an interesting conversation with a close family member the other day. He was struggling to understand why people in the lower echelons of socioeconomic status do not understand or act on their ability to change their circumstances. He firmly held the belief that the drive to achieve is universal and that we all …

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