The Age of Magical Overthinking

by Amanda Montell

Full Title: The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality

If I had paid attention to the title, I would have known going in that this is not meant to solve anything or explain anaything, it truly is just one woman's notes.

Below are another woman's notes.

Halo Effect

????

Proportionality Bias

I have been recently thinking that it has been all my little choices that have culminated in the large conquences in my life. But it is more diffcult to find those connection. For example, it would be easy for me to say that my supplement manages all my PCOS symptoms. However, it makes way more sense that the combination or diet changes, excercise habits, and other supplements all work together to manage all my symptoms in some way. It is not the quick fix anymmore, it is something more complicated and not fully understood. I don't think we are meant to find comfort in that though. See: The Defining Decade.

Sunk Cost Fallacy

This one I am always actively on the lookout for. It stems from the belief that I cannot change the past, but I can always change the future.

Zero-Sum Game

I feel this one hard, because if I win and everyone else loses, then all of my choices were right all along. I know this is stupid, but I don't feel it yet.

Survivorship Bias

???

Recency Illusion

This one confuses me tbh, like how does one notice a pattern before it becomes relevant in our lives and culture? Are we supposed to be precient? Do I look like Leto II?

Overconfidence Bias

Another Dune reference incoming: Oh to be able to accuarately assess your own power.

Illusory Truth Effect

The fix: EVERYONE is wrong and I am right. Only makes sense. But really, I find that I am quick to believe anything I read/watch online or hear from friends and family. It is not natural for me to second guess everything, it takes extra effort and forethought.

Confirmation Bias

I 100% do this! I do it to justify purchases. If I want something, I start to looks for good reviews and actively ignore bad ones so that I can convince myself I can have that thing.

Declinism

Even if the entire world is in decline, why does that matter?

IKEA Effect

I liked the message of this chapter. If I make something it is more meaningful to me, and that's all that matters. That's basically what this website is.