Nonsense

Humans are hardwired to hate uncertainty; we’re constantly trying to find “sure things” to help us succeed. But ironically, Jamie Holmes argues in his new book, this aversion to ambiguity often hinders our ability to make the best decisions. In medicine, for instance, one study found that doctors who acknowledged that their patient had unclear symptoms would nevertheless order a definitive test or prescription 77% of the time–often without asking follow-up questions. (Holmes cites similar confirmation biases in everything from grocery shopping to marriage proposals.) How can we combat this impulsive desire for resolution? For starters, Holmes writes, we should be open to second-guessing ourselves. This is especially true in schools, where teachers should encourage students to take the unfamiliar side of an argument or tackle a problem riddled with errors–all in an attempt to hone their critical-thinking skills. After all, Holmes writes, “sometimes the illusion of knowing is more dangerous than not knowing at all.”

–SARAH BEGLEY