Buzz
For centuries, thinkers, economists, and theorists have crafted countless intricate explanations about society and what drives human behavior. From Adam Smith to Karl Marx, many of these frameworks rely, at least in part, on the assumption that humans act rationally to achieve logical outcomes for themselves or society. However, this assumption is flawed.
Likewise, countless guides exist on how to effectively interact with others, but most presume the person you’re engaging with is reasonably intelligent and competent—despite the likelihood that they’re not. And chances are, neither are you.
In reality, people tend to act irrationally, lazily, and erratically, and nearly all human efforts stem from these three nearly universal characteristics. Therefore, it’s essential to view the world through this lens.
Nobody, not even the wealthy and influential, is strategizing at a high level. Most are barely managing basic moves.
Everyone is foolish
When I consider truly brilliant individuals—not just the sharpest person on public transit, but those on the level of theoretical physicists—I realize I’m far from intelligent. Yet, scrolling through the New York Times comment section, I sometimes feel like a genius. The reality is, there are far more commenters than physicists. For instance, nearly half of Americans believe in ghosts, which means we’re seldom interacting with the intellectual elite in our daily lives.
However, it’s irrelevant where someone stands on the intelligence scale because even the brightest individuals make foolish choices frequently. This isn’t to claim people lack intelligence, but rather that what we consider “smart” rarely drives decisions, opinions, or interactions, even among those who excel in IQ tests or display traits we associate with being intelligent.
Daniel Kahneman, a psychologist, earned a Nobel Prize in economics and a presidential medal of freedom for his extensive research on decision-making psychology. In his 2011 book Thinking, Fast and Slow, Kahneman introduces two systems for processing information and making decisions. The first is automatic, relying on instant, effortless associations formed through past experiences. It’s intuitive and shaped by countless prior interactions.
The second mode is deliberate thinking—the part of our mind we engage when solving an Algebra problem, where we follow methodical, logical steps to reach a solution. This type of thinking requires significant effort.
Kahneman explains that regardless of how “intelligent” we are, our everyday thinking involves a blend of these two systems, with System 2 lightly overseeing the automatic output of System 1 as we go about our lives, seldom intervening. Consider how effortlessly you can drive a car, for example.
Most of the time, this system works well. We rely on our assumptions, impressions, and biases to make decisions and form opinions without much interference. Even when faced with challenges to our beliefs, a small effort from System 2 is usually enough to rationalize them.
Everyone is lazy
Consistently engaging System 2 thinking would be exhausting and often unnecessary. Scrutinizing our assumptions and decisions with the same rigor as solving an algebra problem demands considerable energy, and who has the time? Most choices don’t have a single “correct” answer, and there’s a lot of great content to stream these days.
This might be seen as laziness. While laziness is frequently criticized as a moral failing or one of the seven deadly sins, it actually provides significant evolutionary benefits. Mollusks, for instance, have survived for millions of years without doing much at all.
Many proponents of evolutionary psychology (a field often criticized for its lack of rigor) argue that humans conserving energy by doing just enough to meet immediate needs was a more effective survival strategy than engaging in long-term planning for abstract goals—like hunting a bear instead of building a city. In today’s world, seeking instant gratification isn’t the best path to success, but our primal instincts are hard to overcome. Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume most people you encounter are focused on short-term thinking and actions.
To understand how “lazy” you are, consider how much of your time is spent simply getting through the day versus actively pursuing long-term, abstract goals.
Most of us behave insanely
The National Institute of Mental Health reports that one in five Americans lives with a mental illness, and the CDC states that over half of us will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in our lives. This doesn’t even include those who remain undiagnosed but frequently act irrationally.
You’re likely far less adept at recognizing your own biases than you are at spotting them in others.
This also excludes many individuals with personality disorders, who are less inclined to seek treatment but more prone to achieving success (in business and politics) despite their diminished empathy, which can impair their decision-making. Experts refer to them as “successful psychopaths,” characterizing them as: “Devoid of conscience or concern for others, they ruthlessly pursue their desires, disregarding social norms and expectations without any remorse.” Does this remind you of anyone you know?
Whether the high rates of mental illness stem from some evolutionary benefit, are a consequence of a dysfunctional society, or result from increased awareness of mental health issues is up for debate. However, it’s reasonable to assume that many of us struggle with these issues or exhibit irrational behavior to some degree.
There’s often no visible indication of foolishness, laziness, or irrationality
It’s tempting to label people as foolish or lazy when you’re stuck in a Costco line—your “System 1 Mind” takes over, and biases surface—but the key is understanding that everyone is equally flawed. The external markers we associate with sanity and intelligence are as misleading as assuming the person next to you is unintelligent.
Many of us assume that wealthy and influential individuals achieved their status through intelligence, hard work, and sound judgment—rich people often claim this—but the actual origins of wealth are rarely tied to these traits. Instead, it’s a complex mix of fate, cultural context, and pure luck, akin to an exclusive lottery where you can’t even purchase a ticket.
“This wealthy individual is just as flawed as I am” is a crucial mindset when interacting with those who hold more power or money than you. No one, not even the rich and powerful, is strategizing at a high level. Most are barely managing basic moves.
You are as flawed as everyone else
It would be comforting to believe that identifying flaws and potential missteps in others’ thinking would make it easier to spot them in yourself—to become more mindful, focused, and balanced—but that’s not how it works. You’re welcome to try, but success is unlikely. You’re far less capable of understanding your own biases than recognizing them in others, and simply knowing this fact won’t free you from the mental trap.
Being “smart” won’t help either. Researchers have long examined “bias blind-spots” (our tendency to notice others’ biases more than our own), but recent studies indicate that higher cognitive ability often results in a larger blind spot—being “smarter” seems to make it harder to recognize your own biases compared to spotting them in others.
You might assume Daniel Kahneman, who literally authored the book (actually multiple books) on flawed decision-making, would avoid these mistakes, but that’s not the case. “My intuitive thinking is just as susceptible to overconfidence, extreme predictions, and the planning fallacy as it was before I studied these issues,” he writes in Thinking, Fast and Slow.
How can you leverage this knowledge to your benefit?
You can’t alter how others think, but you can accept it. This acceptance can bring clarity to the world, whether in personal relationships or global politics. Understanding that political and social movements arise from individuals making decisions with limited information and inherent biases—rather than from a secretive group of elites orchestrating world domination—can help you avoid falling for conspiracy theories...and suddenly, the fact that hundreds of skilled, intelligent people dedicated their careers to creating the movie version of Cats becomes understandable.
This realization also brings relief in personal interactions. Recognizing that your fantasy football rival or your co-workers are simply navigating life as best they can allows you to stop overanalyzing their motives. After all, no one truly knows what they’re doing, and most are just trying to make their immediate lives easier.
However, it’s best not to share these insights with loved ones. Simply go along with the illusion that everything makes sense. It’s how we maintain harmony.
