Lesson Category: Insight

“We are not only irrational, but predictably irrational…our irrationality happens the same way, again and again.”

The more aware you are of the glitches in the way that your brain processes information the better able you will be to manage them – increasing your understanding and helping you to make better decisions. This is not about being stupid or clever – these thinking aberrations are hard-wired into how our brains function; we are all susceptible. And they are a big deal! They impact what you do every day and how you make the big decisions in your life.

The Five Factor, or ‘Big Five’, trait model is arguably the most robust of the common personality models and the one preferred by most psychologists. The final video in this section looks at personality from a number of different perspectives and considers how we can be a ‘different person’ in different situations.

We finish this module by taking a broader view of intelligence and an alternative perspective on why you and those around you process information in different ways.

Our emotions evolved from the simple survival instincts of our evolutionary ancestors and use the same parts of the brain. But the trigger mechanisms and processing is very simple and operate under the principle: ‘better safe than sorry’. As a result, we are prone to jumping to conclusions and misinterpreting events, resulting in poor relationships, bad decisions, anxiety, reduced performance …

Understanding your own personal triggers and patterns of behaviour allows you to consciously intervene and adopt more appropriate thinking, leading to improved relationships, better decisions, less stress and higher productivity. Emotional intelligence will also help you to understand and help others. 

We finish this section by taking a broader view of intelligence and an alternative perspective on why you and those around you process information in different ways.

Your brain can best be understood as a collection of sub-systems, each processing the same information in different ways. Often these sub-systems work effectively together as a team; at other times, they compete, each fighting for dominance. Where one perceives danger, another sees opportunity and potential reward. But which is right? If you understand how each system operates, and their individual flaws and strengths, you will be better able to take conscious control.

Course Summary

“We are not only irrational, but predictably irrational…our irrationality happens the same way, again and again.”

The more aware you are of the glitches in the way that your brain processes information the better able you will be to manage them – increasing your understanding and helping you to make better decisions. This is not about being stupid or clever – these thinking aberrations are hard-wired into how our brains function; we are all susceptible. And they are a big deal! They impact what you do every day and how you make the big decisions in your life.

This is possibly the most challenging section in the course as it goes to the root of who you are – and actually challenges whether ‘you’ in fact exist. Philosophers have debated the questions we will address in these videos for thousands of years. More recently psychologists have joined the debate and now neuroscientists, with advances in brain imaging, can link theory to physiological changes.

This module tackles the hidden blocks to our success: the beliefs and automatic processes, often formed during childhood, that lead us to wrong, often harmful conclusions. I’ll reveal how you can avoid and dismantle these success blocks. As you gain personal insight, you will become more resilient and productive. Relationships will improve. And you will be less prone to stress and anxiety.