Why "scout mindset" is crucial to good judgment | Julia Galef | TEDxPSU

Summary

In this thought-provoking talk, the speaker explores the impact of 'soldier mindset' versus 'scout mindset' on decision-making and judgment. Using the historical Dreyfus Affair as a backdrop, the speaker illustrates how motivated reasoning can lead to grave injustices when individuals interpret information through a biased lens. The narrative pivots to Colonel Picquart's quest for truth, highlighting the 'scout mindset' characterized by curiosity, open-mindedness, and emotional grounding. The speaker advocates for cultivating this mindset to enhance personal and societal judgment, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence over raw knowledge or IQ.

Takeaways

• 🏹 The importance of adopting a 'scout mindset' for accurate understanding and decision-making, as opposed to a 'soldier mindset' which is driven by biases and motivated reasoning.
• 🎯 The 'soldier mindset' is characterized by a defensive stance where personal beliefs are protected and opposing views are attacked, influenced by unconscious motivations.
• 🕵️‍♂️ The 'scout mindset' involves a genuine curiosity and desire to understand the truth, even if it contradicts one's own beliefs or is inconvenient.
• 📜 The historical context provided by the Dreyfus Affair illustrates the dangers of motivated reasoning and the importance of objective judgment.
• 🔍 The role of Colonel Picquart as an example of someone who, despite his prejudices, chose to pursue the truth and was instrumental in Dreyfus's exoneration.
• 🤔 The concept of 'motivated reasoning' is a psychological phenomenon where our desires and fears shape our interpretation of information.
• 🧐 The idea that our judgment can be strongly influenced by unconscious biases, even when we believe ourselves to be objective and fair-minded.
• 🌐 The ubiquity of motivated reasoning in various aspects of life, including sports, politics, health, relationships, and ethical considerations.
• 💡 The scout mindset is driven by different emotions such as curiosity, open-mindedness, and a grounding that is not tied to being right or wrong about specific topics.
• 🌟 The traits that predict good judgment are not about intelligence or knowledge but rather about emotional responses and values towards truth and self-worth.
• 🚢 A call to action to cultivate a 'scout mindset' by changing our emotional responses to being wrong and to information that challenges our beliefs.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the talk?

The main theme of the talk is the contrast between the 'soldier mindset' and the 'scout mindset' and how these mindsets influence our judgment, decision-making, and the processing of information.

What does the speaker mean by 'soldier mindset'?

The 'soldier mindset' refers to a state of mind where one's unconscious motivations, desires, and fears shape the interpretation of information, often leading to biased judgments and motivated reasoning.

What is the 'scout mindset'?

The 'scout mindset' is a mindset driven by curiosity, a desire for truth, and the ability to set aside personal biases to understand the world as accurately as possible.

Why does the speaker use the Dreyfus Affair as an example?

The Dreyfus Affair is used as an example to illustrate the dangers of the 'soldier mindset' and how motivated reasoning can lead to the wrongful conviction of an innocent person.

What was Alfred Dreyfus accused of, and what was the evidence against him?

Alfred Dreyfus was accused of selling military secrets to Germany. The evidence against him included a handwriting match on a memo, which was later questioned by outside experts.

How did the French officers' anti-Semitism influence their judgment in the Dreyfus case?

The French officers' anti-Semitism led them to focus their suspicions on Dreyfus, the only Jewish officer of his rank, and interpret evidence in a way that confirmed their biases, despite the lack of strong evidence.

Who is Colonel Picquart, and what role did he play in the Dreyfus Affair?

Colonel Picquart was a high-ranking officer in the French army who initially believed Dreyfus was guilty but later discovered evidence suggesting another officer might be the real spy. His pursuit of the truth eventually led to Dreyfus's exoneration.

What does the speaker suggest is the key to developing a 'scout mindset'?

The speaker suggests that developing a 'scout mindset' is about cultivating certain emotional traits such as curiosity, open-mindedness, and a sense of groundedness, rather than focusing solely on intellectual abilities.

How does the speaker describe the relationship between emotions and the 'scout mindset'?

The speaker describes the 'scout mindset' as being rooted in positive emotions like curiosity and a sense of groundedness, which can help individuals overcome their biases and see the world more objectively.

What is the main takeaway from the talk regarding improving judgment and decision-making?

The main takeaway is that improving judgment and decision-making is less about acquiring more knowledge and more about adopting a 'scout mindset' and changing the way we feel about encountering new information and being wrong.

What does the speaker suggest as a metaphor for developing a better understanding of the world?

The speaker uses the metaphor of Saint-Exupery's quote about building a ship, suggesting that to truly understand the world, one must yearn for the vast and endless sea of knowledge and truth, rather than just collecting information.

Outlines

00:00

🛡️ The Soldier and Scout Mindsets

This paragraph introduces the concept of two distinct mindsets: the soldier and the scout. The soldier represents a defensive and biased approach to information processing, driven by ingrained reflexes and the need to protect one's own side. In contrast, the scout embodies a mindset focused on understanding and accurately mapping the terrain without the intent to attack or defend. The speaker uses the historical Dreyfus Affair to illustrate how the soldier mindset, influenced by motivated reasoning and unconscious biases, can lead to grave injustices, such as the wrongful conviction of Alfred Dreyfus, a French officer accused of treason based on flimsy evidence and anti-Semitic sentiments within the military.

05:02

🕵️‍♂️ Motivated Reasoning and the Soldier Mindset

The second paragraph delves deeper into the 'soldier mindset,' also known as 'motivated reasoning,' where personal desires and fears unconsciously shape the interpretation of information. The speaker provides relatable examples from sports and politics to demonstrate how people tend to defend their preconceived notions and discredit opposing views. The narrative continues with the story of Colonel Picquart, who, despite his initial bias, begins to question the conviction of Dreyfus after discovering new evidence. Picquart's journey highlights the struggle against motivated reasoning and the pursuit of truth, even in the face of personal and institutional resistance.

10:03

🌟 The Scout Mindset and Emotional Grounding

The final paragraph emphasizes the importance of adopting a 'scout mindset' for better judgment and decision-making. It contrasts the scout mindset with the soldier mindset, focusing on curiosity, open-mindedness, and a grounding in emotional stability that is not tied to being right or wrong about specific issues. The speaker discusses the emotional underpinnings of the scout mindset, which includes values that prioritize truth-seeking over defensiveness and the ability to change one's mind without feeling diminished. The conclusion calls for a shift in societal focus from intellectual knowledge to emotional intelligence, suggesting that fostering a scout mindset is essential for clear and objective understanding of the world.

Keywords

💡Adrenaline

Adrenaline is a hormone that is released in response to stress and prepares the body for a 'fight or flight' reaction. In the video, it is mentioned to illustrate how soldiers in battle experience heightened adrenaline levels, which can influence their actions and decision-making processes. The concept ties into the theme of instinctual responses versus the more deliberate and analytical approach of a scout.

💡Scout Mindset

The 'scout mindset' is a concept introduced in the video that emphasizes the importance of understanding and accurately assessing information without bias. It contrasts with the 'soldier mindset,' which is more about defending one's position. The video uses this term to advocate for a mindset that seeks truth and objectivity, as exemplified by Colonel Picquart's eventual realization and pursuit of justice for Alfred Dreyfus.

💡Alfred Dreyfus

Alfred Dreyfus was a French army officer wrongfully convicted of treason in the late 19th century, as detailed in the video. His case serves as a central narrative to explore themes of bias, prejudice, and the consequences of 'motivated reasoning.' The video uses Dreyfus's story to highlight the dangers of jumping to conclusions based on insufficient evidence and the importance of re-evaluating one's beliefs in light of new information.

💡Motivated Reasoning

Motivated reasoning is a psychological phenomenon where personal desires and fears influence the interpretation of information. The video describes it as a 'soldier mindset,' where individuals are more inclined to defend their beliefs and discredit opposing views. This concept is crucial to understanding how biases can lead to erroneous judgments, as seen in the wrongful conviction of Dreyfus.

💡Prejudice

Prejudice refers to preconceived opinions or attitudes that are not based on reason or actual experience. In the context of the video, anti-Semitism within the French army is identified as a significant factor contributing to Dreyfus's wrongful conviction. The term is used to illustrate how ingrained biases can cloud judgment and lead to injustice.

💡Colonel Picquart

Colonel Picquart is portrayed as a pivotal figure in the video who, despite his initial belief in Dreyfus's guilt and his own anti-Semitic attitudes, ultimately seeks the truth and works towards Dreyfus's exoneration. His character exemplifies the transition from a 'soldier mindset' to a 'scout mindset,' demonstrating the power of re-evaluating one's beliefs in the face of new evidence.

💡Dreyfus Affair

The Dreyfus Affair is a historical event that the video uses as a case study to explore the themes of injustice, bias, and the pursuit of truth. It refers to the political scandal and legal case surrounding Alfred Dreyfus's wrongful conviction for espionage. The video discusses the affair to illustrate the dangers of motivated reasoning and the importance of adopting a scout mindset.

💡Curiosity

Curiosity, as mentioned in the video, is a key trait of the 'scout mindset.' It is the desire to learn, explore, and understand new information. The video suggests that individuals with a scout mindset are more likely to feel pleasure in learning and are intrigued by information that challenges their expectations, which contrasts with the defensiveness often associated with the soldier mindset.

💡Values

In the context of the video, 'values' refer to the principles and standards that guide an individual's behavior and decision-making. The video argues that those with a scout mindset are more likely to value testing their own beliefs and are less likely to view changing one's mind as a sign of weakness. These values are presented as essential for fostering good judgment and an open-minded approach to understanding the world.

💡Emotional Grounding

Emotional grounding is the concept of not tying one's self-worth to specific beliefs or opinions. The video suggests that scouts are emotionally grounded, meaning they can accept being wrong without it impacting their sense of self. This trait is highlighted as a key component of the scout mindset, allowing individuals to be more objective and open to new information.

💡Yearning

Yearning, as used in the video's closing quote by Saint-Exupery, refers to a deep, passionate desire or longing. The video concludes by asking the audience what they yearn for, challenging them to consider whether they desire to defend their beliefs or to see the world as clearly as possible. This term encapsulates the video's call to adopt a scout mindset and the emotional shift required to do so.

Highlights

The concept of 'soldier mindset' and 'scout mindset' as metaphors for how we process information and ideas in our daily lives.

The historical context of the Dreyfus Affair in 19th century France as an example of motivated reasoning leading to a political scandal.

Alfred Dreyfus, the Jewish officer accused of treason, and the biased investigation that led to his wrongful conviction.

The phenomenon of 'motivated reasoning' where unconscious motivations shape the interpretation of information.

Examples of how motivated reasoning affects our judgment in everyday life, such as in sports or politics.

The unconscious nature of motivated reasoning and its potential to lead to harmful outcomes despite good intentions.

The role of Colonel Picquart in the eventual exoneration of Dreyfus, demonstrating the 'scout mindset'.

The importance of curiosity, open-mindedness, and grounding in developing a 'scout mindset'.

The contrast between the soldier mindset driven by defensiveness and tribalism, and the scout mindset driven by curiosity and truth-seeking.

The emotional roots of both soldier and scout mindsets and how they influence our approach to information.

The idea that good judgment is more about emotional traits than intelligence or knowledge.

The non-correlation of good judgment traits with IQ and the emphasis on emotional intelligence.

The practical applications of understanding and adopting the scout mindset in improving personal and societal judgment.

The inspirational quote by Saint-Exupery on the importance of yearning for the vast sea over mere instruction in building a ship.

The call to action for individuals and societies to cultivate a scout mindset for better judgment and decision-making.

The final question posed to the audience about their yearning: to defend beliefs or to see the world as clearly as possible.

Transcripts

Translator: Daniel Balton Reviewer: Ivana Korom

So, I'd like you to imagine for a moment

that you are a soldier in the heat of battle.

Maybe you're a Roman foot soldier or a medieval archer

or maybe you're a Zulu warrior.

Regardless of your time and place,

there are some things that are constant.

Your adrenaline is elevated, and your actions are stemming

from these deeply ingrained reflexes.

Reflexes rooted in a need to protect yourself and your side

and to defeat the enemy.

So now I'd like you to imagine playing a very different role.

That of the scout.

So the scout's job is not to attack or defend.

The scout's job is to understand.

The scout is the one going out,

mapping the terrain, identifying potential obstacles,

and the scout may hope to learn that say, there's a bridge

in a convenient location across the river.

But above all, the scout wants to know what's really there

as accurately as possible.

And in a real actual army,

both the soldier and the scout are essential.

But you can also think of each of these roles as a mindset.

A metaphor for how all of us process information

and ideas in our daily lives.

And what I'm going to argue today is that having good judgment,

and making accurate predictions, making good decisions

is mostly about which mindset you're in.

So, to illustrate these mindsets in action,

I'm going to take you back to 19th century France

where this innocuous looking piece of paper launched

one of the biggest political scandals in history.

It was discovered in 1894 by officers

in the French general staff.

And it was torn up in a wastepaper basket

but when they pieced it back together, they discovered

that someone in their ranks had been selling military secrets

to Germany.

So they launched a big investigation

and their suspicions quickly converged

on this man, Alfred Dreyfus.

He had a sterling record.

No past history of wrongdoing,

no motive as far as they could tell.

But Dreyfus was the only Jewish officer at that rank in the Army

and unfortunately, at this time,

the French army was highly anti-semitic.

So they compared Dreyfus's handwriting to that on the memo

and included that it was a match.

Even though outside professional handwriting experts

were much less confident in the similarity, but never mind that.

They went and searched Dreyfus's apartment

looking for any signs of espionage.

They went through his files and they didn't find anything.

And this just convinced them more that Dreyfus was not only guilty,

but sneaky as well, because clearly he had hidden all of the evidence

before they had managed to get to it.

Next, they went and looked through his personal history

for any incriminating details.

They talked to his teachers.

They found that he had studied foreign languages in school

which clearly showed a desire to conspire with foreign governments

later in life.

His teachers also said that Dreyfus had a good memory

and was known for having a good memory.

Which was highly suspicious, right?

You know, because a spy has to remember a lot of things.

So, the case went to trial and Dreyfus was found guilty.

And afterwards they took him out into this public square

and ritualistically tore his insignia for his uniform

and broke his sword and two.

This is called the degradation of Dreyfus.

And they sentenced him to life imprisonment

on the aptly named Devil's Island

which is this barren rock off the coast of South America.

So there he went.

And there he spent his days alone writing letters

and letters to the French government

begging them to reopen his case so they could discover his innocence.

But for the most part, France considered the matter closed.

So one thing that's really interesting to me

about the Dreyfus Affair is this question

of why the officers were so convinced

that Dreyfus was guilty.

I mean you might even assume that they were setting him up.

They were intentionally framing him,

but historians don't think that's what happened.

As far as we can tell, the officers genuinely believed

that the case against Dreyfus was strong.

Which you know, makes you wonder what does it say

about the human mind that we can find such paltry evidence

to be compelling enough to convict a man?

Well, this is a case of what scientists call

"motivated reasoning".

It's this phenomenon which our unconscious motivations,

our desires and fears shape the way we interpret information.

So some information, some ideas feel like our allies

and we want them to win.

We want to defend them.

And other information or ideas are the enemy

and we want to shoot them down.

So this is why I call motivated reasoning, "soldier mindset."

And probably most of you have never persecuted

a French Jewish officer for high treason I assume,

but maybe you've followed sports or politics.

So you might have noticed that when the referee judges

that your team committed a foul for example,

you're highly motivated to find reasons why he's wrong.

But if he judges that the other team committed a foul - awesome!

That's a good call.

Let's not examine it too closely.

Or, maybe you've read an article or study

that examined some controversial policy

like capital punishment.

And as researchers have demonstrated,

if you support capital punishment,

and the study shows that is not effective,

then you're highly motivated to find all the reasons

why the study was poorly designed.

But if it shows that capital punishment works - awesome!

It's a good study. And vice versa.

If you don't support capital punishment, same thing.

Our judgment is just strongly influenced unconsciously

by which side we want to win.

And this is ubiquitous.

This shapes how we think about our health, relationships,

how we decide how to vote, what we consider fair or ethical,

and what's most scary to me about motivated reasoning

or soldier mindset, is how unconscious it is.

We can think we're being objective and fair-minded

and still wind up ruining the life of an innocent man.

However, fortunately for Dreyfus, his story is not over.

This is Colonel Picquart.

He is another high-ranking officer in the French army,

and like most people, he assumed Dreyfus was guilty.

Also like most people in the Army,

he was at least casually anti-Semitic.

But at a certain point, Picquart began to suspect

what if we are all wrong about Dreyfus?

And what happened was, he had discovered evidence

that the spying for Germany had continued

even after Dreyfus was in prison.

And he had also discovered that another officer in the Army

had handwriting that perfectly matched the memo.

Much closer than Dreyfus's handwriting.

So he brought these discoveries to his superiors

but to his dismay, they either didn't care,

or came up with elaborate rationalizations to explain his findings,

like, "Well, all you've really shown, Piquart, is that there is another spy

who learned how to mimic Dreyfus's handwriting,

and he picked up the torch of spying after Dreyfus left.

But Dreyfus is still guilty.

Eventually, Piquart managed to get Dreyfus exonerated.

But it took him 10 years,

and for part of that time, he himself was in prison

for the crime of disloyalty to the Army.

So, you know, a lot of people feel

like Piquart can't really be the hero of this story.

Because he was an anti-Semite and that's bad.

Which I agree with, but personally, for me,

the fact that Piquant was anti-Semitic

actually makes his actions more admirable to me.

Because he had the same prejudices, the same reasons

to be biased as his fellow officers,

but his motivation to find the truth and uphold it just trumped all of that.

So to me,

Piquart is a poster child for what I call "scout mindset."

It's the drive not to make one idea win or another lose,

but just to see what's really there as honestly and accurately as you can,

even if it's not pretty or convenient or pleasant.

And this mindset is what I'm personally passionate about.

And what I've spent the last few years examining

and trying to figure out what causes scout mindset.

You know, why are some people sometimes at least,

able to cut through their own prejudices and biases and motivations

and just to see the facts and evidence

as objectively as they can?

And the answer is emotional.

So, just as the soldier mindset is rooted in emotions

like defensiveness or tribalism, scout mindset is too.

It's just rooted in different emotions.

So for example, scouts are curious.

They're more likely to say that they feel pleasure

when they learn new information or an itch to solve a puzzle.

They're more likely to feel intrigued

when they encounter something that contradicts or expectations.

Scouts also have different values.

They are more likely to say that they think it's virtuous

to test your own beliefs and they're less likely to say

that someone who changes his mind seems weak.

And above all, scouts are grounded.

Which means that their self-worth

as a person isn't tied to how right or wrong they are

about any particular topic.

So, you know, they can believe that capital punishment works

and if studies come out showing that it doesn't, they can say,

"Huh. Looks like I might be wrong.

Doesn't mean I'm bad or stupid."

So these traits, this cluster of traits

is what researchers have found -

and I've also found anecdotally - predicts good judgment.

And the key takeaway I want to leave you with

about those traits is that they're primarily

not about how smart you are, or about how much you know.

In fact they don't correlate very much with IQ at all.

They're about how you feel.

So, there's a quote that I keep coming back to by Saint-Exupery.

He is the author of "The Little Prince."

And he said, "If you want to build a ship,

don't drum up your men to collect wood and give orders

and distribute the work.

Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea."

In other words, I claim if we want

to really improve our judgment as individuals and as societies,

what we need most is not more instruction in logic or rhetoric

or probability or economics,

even though those things are quite valuable.

But what we most need

to use those principles well, is scout mindset.

We need to change the way we feel.

We need to learn how to feel proud instead of ashamed

when we notice we might have been wrong about something.

We need to learn how to feel intrigued instead of defensive

when we encounter some information

that contradicts our beliefs.

So, the question I want to leave you with,

is what do you most yearn for?

Do you yearn to defend your own beliefs,

or do you yearn to see the world as clearly as you possibly can?

Thank you.

(Applause)