Are you guilty of always playing it safe? Your brain is to blame for risk-averse decisions | Health

Do you always beat yourself up for choosing the right and easy way? It may surprise you if you blame yourself for being afraid, shying away from risks, and sticking to your comfort zone. This isn’t about preference or even laziness, but instead it’s all about the wiring of your brain. A. to work A study published in the journal Cognitive Psychology found that choosing a simple solution to a complex problem at hand has inherent psychological reasoning.

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preference for simplicity

For any complex, serious problem, there is a mental tendency to gravitate towards simplicity, something that is easy, something that gets the job done quickly without requiring a lot of metal effort. Researchers at the University of Waterloo have shown how the brain is programmed to prefer simple, easy solutions and shortcuts to any problem.

The study examined 2,820 participants across seven experiments. They were given problems that had both simple and twisted solutions. Again and again, all participants chose simple, easy options. This reflects an innate preference for simplicity. The researchers emphasized that this tendency is not laziness, but actually the brain trying to work at optimum efficiency without overcomplicating things and choosing simplicity as the way to move forward.

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Simplicity for efficiency

The researchers also highlighted how simple solutions are reliable, reliable and widespread. However, complex solutions are risky and unpredictable; it doubles the brainwork effort and can even cost actual productivity. The human brain is naturally oriented towards efficiency, so it gravitates towards simple and easy solutions.

Co-author Ori Friedman said: “Our research shows that people place high value on efficiency, the idea of ​​doing more with less, and that a focus on efficiency influences how people think about both explanations and accomplishments.”

The research also highlights the human brain’s ability to seek efficiency by streamlining effort. As they say, work smart, not hard.