Scales out of scale Habit of mind to put dissimilar things together 2011 onwards

Scales out of scale Habit of mind to put dissimilar things together 2011 onwards

Level matching refers to the human cognitive tendency to compare matters of different nature and dimensions on the same scale. In light of Daniel Kahneman's theory, this is also a characteristic of intuitive working systems1. People unconsciously try to put the ability to read a book at the age of four on the same level with a physical value, such as being 188 centimeters tall, and evaluate them using a single, easily understood scale. While they are adept at conjuring up representative images and averages, they are not good at counting quantities accurately or dealing rigorously with sums and probabilities, and therefore tend to drift toward simplifying their judgments. In today's society, this trait reinforces the tendency to compare multifaceted concepts such as academic achievement, income, ability, and happiness with a single number, leading to misunderstandings and unfair evaluations. Level matching is a convenience for a quick grasp of the world, but if we lack awarene
ss that we are placing dissimilar things on the same scale, the accuracy of our judgments is greatly compromised. Being aware of this habit is the starting point for more careful thinking.