Solving Open Ended Problems | Episode 012 Video Game Addiction

Summary

The video script discusses the impact of gaming and structured education paths, such as pursuing a career in medicine, on individuals' abilities to solve open-ended problems. It highlights how gamers and doctors, accustomed to defined solutions and clear goals, struggle with abstract thinking and life decisions like job hunting or finding relationships. The speaker suggests that breaking down complex, open-ended issues into manageable, concrete steps can empower individuals to overcome these challenges and improve various aspects of their lives.

Takeaways

• 🎮 Gamers excel at closed-ended problem solving, such as puzzles, where the path from start to finish is clearly defined.
• 🔍 Gamers often struggle with open-ended problems where the end goal is not clear, such as finding a job or a partner.
• 👨‍⚕️ Doctors, despite being highly intelligent, also struggle with open-ended problem solving due to their structured educational and professional paths.
• 👶 The script traces the journey of a doctor from a young age, highlighting how their life is largely scripted with clear goals and steps to follow.
• 🏥 The medical profession's structured path contrasts with the open-ended challenges faced in other careers, where individuals must navigate a broader set of variables.
• 💼 The first time many doctors apply for a job is often after their residency, which can lead to difficulties in job negotiations and understanding their value in the job market.
• 🧩 The script suggests that the key to overcoming struggles with open-ended problems is to break them down into smaller, more concrete steps.
• 🤔 It emphasizes the importance of developing the cognitive skill of abstract thinking and problem-solving, which can be learned and improved over time.
• 💡 The speaker proposes that by consciously operationalizing and breaking down problems, individuals can make progress in areas of life that initially seemed abstract and daunting.
• 👗 For example, finding a girlfriend can be broken down into improving fashion sense, hygiene, social skills, and physical fitness, making it a more approachable problem.
• 📋 The takeaway encourages individuals to write down steps towards their goals to identify where they might be struggling with abstract thinking and to then break those steps into more concrete actions.

Q & A

What is the main difference between open-ended and closed-ended problem solving?

Open-ended problem solving involves issues without a clear endpoint, such as finding a job or a partner, where the criteria for success are not well-defined. Closed-ended problem solving, on the other hand, has a defined solution, such as puzzles or games where the goal is clear and the path to the solution is more structured.

Why do gamers struggle with open-ended problem solving according to the transcript?

Gamers struggle with open-ended problem solving because they are used to the structured, closed-ended problems presented in games where the path from point A to point Z is clear. They may mistakenly attribute their struggle to laziness, but it's actually due to a lack of experience with problems that do not have a defined endpoint or solution.

Why might doctors also struggle with open-ended problem solving?

Doctors may struggle with open-ended problem solving because their training and career path is highly structured, similar to a game. From a young age, they follow a script that leads them through school, college, medical school, and residency without needing to make many open-ended decisions or solve problems without clear endpoints.

What is a common misconception about gamers' struggle with open-ended problems?

A common misconception is that gamers' struggle with open-ended problems is due to laziness. However, the transcript suggests that the real issue is a lack of development in the cognitive skill required to handle abstract, open-ended problems.

What is the 'script' referred to in the transcript when discussing the path to becoming a doctor?

The 'script' refers to the structured and predefined path that aspiring doctors follow from a young age. This includes taking AP classes, achieving good grades and SAT scores, applying to prestigious universities, and following the steps laid out by advisors and institutions throughout medical school and residency.

Why might doctors be underpaid in the early years of their career?

Doctors might be underpaid in the early years of their career because they have not developed the skills to negotiate their worth effectively. Their structured career path has not required them to learn how to evaluate their value in the job market or to negotiate for better pay and benefits.

How does the transcript suggest improving open-ended problem-solving skills for gamers?

The transcript suggests that by consciously breaking down an abstract problem into its component parts and figuring out the steps needed at each stage, gamers can start to move forward in life. This process involves operationalizing the problem and making it more concrete, which gamers are adept at solving.

What is an example of an abstract problem that can be broken down into concrete steps?

Finding a girlfriend is an example of an abstract problem that can be broken down into concrete steps such as improving fashion sense, hygiene, social skills, physical fitness, and living situation.

How does the transcript describe the process of becoming successful in open-ended problem solving?

The transcript describes the process as one of gradually increasing the number of variables and options one has to consider, learning to navigate these variables, and developing the cognitive skill to break down abstract problems into manageable, concrete steps.

What is the key message of the transcript regarding the relationship between gaming and open-ended problem solving?

The key message is that the structured nature of gaming can limit the development of skills needed for open-ended problem solving. However, by consciously breaking down abstract problems into concrete steps, gamers can improve these skills and achieve their goals.