When it comes to solving a problem, our brain is innately tempted to find solutions by adding new elements even if it is not the most rational answer.
- Additive ideas would come to mind more quickly and easily while subtractive ideas require more cognitive effort.
- Our subconscious would associate subtraction as an action related to loss and would naturally think “the more the better”.
The theory of “always more” would be an innate tendency of our brain. American researchers from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, conducted a series of experiments and observations in which they discovered that the human brain naturally turns to adding new elements to solve a problem. “Most people assume that the best way to deal with a problem is to add new features, even if that’s not the most rational solution.”, summarizes Benjamin Converse, psychologist and main author of the study published on April 7 in the journal Nature.
Even if the rational choice is to subtract, the brain will tend to add
Researchers have observed how people try to change objects, concepts or situations. They noted that when a new university rector is appointed and comes up with new ideas, only 11% of them involve getting rid of something. Among travelers who were asked to improve a travel itinerary, less than one in three (28%) eliminated destinations, even if the schedule was already overloaded. Same observation among people who have retouched a text: only 17% have removed words rather than adding them. Regarding ideas for improving a soup recipe, participants tended to add 2.85 additional ingredients to the original five.
In a second step, the researchers wanted to confront this mania for “always more” with problems whose most rational solution is to subtract and delete. They gave participants squares with colored patterns and asked them to make the pattern symmetrical by changing elements of the figure. To achieve symmetry in the simplest way, the solution was to remove patterns. However, only a small half of the volunteers (49%) opted for this solution. In another experiment, participants had to stabilize a Lego structure with one leg longer than the other by adding or removing blocks. Nearly two out of three chose to add blocks (59%) rather than remove them.
Add a cognitive reflex
The authors propose several hypotheses to explain this cognitive habit. “Additive ideas come more quickly and easily to mind, while subtractive ideas require more cognitive effortbelieves Benjamin Converse. And since people often only act on the first ideas that come to them, they end up accepting additive solutions without considering subtraction..” Another idea put forward: our subconscious would associate subtraction as an action linked to a loss and would think that naturally “the more, the better”.
This trend is not necessarily a good thing. “Over time, our habit of addition sets in and becomes stronger, which means that in the long term, we miss opportunities to effectively deal with problems, deplore Gabrielle Adams, co-author of the study. We see the results every day through overloaded schedules, an increasing complexity of administrations or an unlimited exploitation of natural resources.. ”
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