Even experts can be susceptible to cognitive illusions from "summary" of The Invisible Gorilla by Christopher Chabris,Daniel Simons
The idea that even experts can fall prey to cognitive illusions may sound surprising. After all, we tend to think of experts as having a deep understanding of their field, being able to see through any illusion with ease. However, the truth is that expertise does not make someone immune to these cognitive traps. In fact, experts may be even more susceptible to cognitive illusions than novices in certain situations. This is because their expertise can lead them to rely on automatic, unconscious processes when making decisions or judgments. These processes, while usually helpful, can also blind experts to important information that contradicts their preconceived notions. One common cognitive illusion that experts can fall victim to is confirmation bias. This is the tendency to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs while ignoring evidence that contradicts them. For experts, this can mean overlooking data that challenges their theories or hypotheses, leading them to make flawed conclusions. Another cognitive illusion that experts may experience is the curse of knowledge. This occurs when someone who is deeply knowledgeable about a subject struggles to see it from the perspective of someone with less expertise. As a result, experts may have difficulty communicating their ideas clearly to others or may overlook simpler explanations in favor of more complex ones.- It is important to remember that expertise does not shield someone from cognitive illusions. In fact, being aware of these traps and actively working to avoid them can be crucial for experts in any field. By remaining open-minded, questioning their assumptions, and seeking out diverse perspectives, experts can mitigate the impact of cognitive illusions on their decision-making processes.
