How Declinism Shows the Brain’s Bias and Shapes Our View of the World

The Biased Brain Podcast with Owen Hawthorne

Explore the intriguing world of cognitive biases and human cognition in this engaging podcast. Discover how bias in decision making shapes our perceptions and influences our choices. Join us as we delve into the science behind critical thinking and biases, providing practical insights to enhance your understanding and control over your thought processes. Whether you're a psychology student or curious observer, this podcast offers valuable tools to help you unveil the hidden biases in your mind.

Why Does Everything Seem Worse Than It Actually Is? Understanding Declinism and Cognitive Biases

You ever find yourself thinking that the world is going downhill? Like things were better “back in the day,” and every year just seems worse than the one before? If so, you’re definitely not alone—and there’s actually a cognitive bias behind that feeling. It’s called declinism, and it’s tied directly to how our brains can trick us into seeing reality through a pretty skewed lens.

So, here’s the lowdown: declinism is this mental pattern where people believe things are consistently getting worse, no matter what the facts say. This can apply to anything from society, culture, economy, to even the state of humanity. Our brains have a weird way of remembering the past with a little bit of nostalgia and glossing over the problems, while highlighting current issues in an exaggerated negative way. That’s the biased brain at work again.

Now, what’s really fascinating is how declinism fits into the bigger picture of human cognition and the many cognitive biases we’re wired for. Our minds are like this incredible, highly efficient machine, but they aren’t perfect. They take mental shortcuts and sometimes fill in gaps with assumptions that aren’t exactly true. This is where biases like declinism come in—the brain’s shortcuts can lead us to believe the world is worse, even if data suggests otherwise.

Think about it: news media often tends to highlight the most dramatic, negative events because that grabs our attention. Combine that with declinism, and it’s easy to feel like everything’s going downhill. But if you look at long-term trends objectively, many areas—such as global poverty rates, literacy, and health—have actually improved over decades. Our biased brain just doesn’t always want to see the good, especially when the scary stuff is so much louder.

• Memory distortion: We remember the past as better than it was because of selective recollection.
• Negativity bias: Our brains pay more attention to negative events—a survival mechanism that now makes us prone to pessimism.
• Status quo bias: We resist change and idealize the past because it’s familiar and comforting.

What’s wild is how declinism and these other biases sneak into our bias in decision making every day without us realizing it. They can cloud our judgments, making us more pessimistic or resistant to change than we need to be. That’s why critical thinking and biases are so important. Being able to recognize these mental traps is the first step in questioning whether our gloomy worldview is actually justified or just a reflection of our brain’s quirks.

If you’re intrigued by how understanding cognitive biases can improve your daily thinking, relationships, and overall perspective, I strongly recommend checking out the book, The Biased Brain by Bo Bennett, PhD. It’s packed with insightful examples and practical advice on how to spot these biases and make decisions that aren’t so heavily influenced by them.

Getting familiar with concepts like declinism and other biases doesn’t mean ignoring real problems. Instead, it helps you approach them with a clearer mind and more balanced view. Imagine how empowering it feels to understand the mental filters shaping your perceptions—that’s the gateway to being a bit more hopeful and rational about where we’re headed.

So next time you catch yourself thinking “things just aren’t what they used to be,” remember it could be your brain playing tricks on you. Questions like “Is this really worse, or am I just biased?” can open the door to a healthier mindset. Explore the book and unravel the secrets of your mind today by visiting The Biased Brain. It’s a great way to get smarter about your thought process and maybe even gain some peace of mind along the way.

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