I’m an idiot -- and you should be, too. Sometimes. Thinking is hard, and thinking with a free, open mind might be the hardest thing of all. The Einstellung Effect can create cognitive illusions that blind us to different points of view. It prevents us from seeing simpler solutions or alternative ways to solve a problem. And the more we know about a given topic, the stronger the Einstellung Effect can be. Psychology, math, and every other field is subject to Einstellung, and it’s why heroes often appear from completely different disciplines. Because a fresh set of eyes isn’t bound by a given set of knowledge, they see something in a brand new light. What’s impossible to trained professionals can be obvious to someone who’s inexperienced. The Einstellung Effect might be the ultimate psychological paradox: the more we know, the stupider we can be. And the stupider we are, the more we can know. ** SOURCES ** “Mechanization in Problem Solving: The Effect of Einstellung” (1942). Alexander Luchins, Psychological Monographs, 54(6), i–95: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2011-21639-001 “Novum Organum” (1620). Francis Bacon: https://oll.libertyfund.org/sources/1701-facsimile-pdf-bacon-novum-organum/download “Making Use of Data” (2013). Jeremy Zasowski, 3M Inside Angle: https://www.3mhisinsideangle.com/blog-post/making-use-of-data/ “Simple Heuristics That Make Us Smart” (1999). Gigerenzer, Todd, and ABC Research Group: https://ia802301.us.archive.org/17/items/pdfy-Xi4vv7AaDeTOQeF-/Simple%20Heuristics%20That%20Make%20Us%20Smart.pdf “Discovering Psychological Mechanisms for Solving a Tenacious Brainteaser” (2003). Wang and Krauss: http://usd-apps.usd.edu/xtwanglab/Papers/MontyHallPaper.pdf “The Knowledge Paradox: Why Knowing More is Knowing Less” (2017). Burlando: https://arxiv.org/abs/1702.07227#:~:text=Hence%2C%20any%20statement%20about%20reality,then%20I%20do%20not%20know%2D. The Water Jar Problem (table): https://condor.depaul.edu/dallbrit/extra/360/water-jar-solution.htm Grand Illusions Einstein Hollow Face Illusion https://www.grand-illusions.com/einstein-hollow-face-illusion-c2x21140056 The Hollow Mask Illusion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH9dAbPOR6M ** LINKS ** Vsauce2: Twitter: https://twitter.com/VsauceTwo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VsauceTwo Talk Vsauce2 in the TCU Discord: https://discord.gg/tyh7AVm Hosted and Produced by Kevin Lieber Instagram: http://instagram.com/kevlieber Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevinlieber Podcast: null Research And Writing by Matthew Tabor https://twitter.com/TaborTCU Editing by John Swan https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJuSltoYKrAUKnbYO5EMZ2A Research Assistant: German Banda Thumbnail by Eric Langlay https://twitter.com/ericlanglay Huge Thanks To Paula Lieber https://www.etsy.com/shop/Craftality Select Music By Jake Chudnow: null Get Your Curiosity Box: null #education #vsauce2