The surprising secret that solves your problems quickly | Collins Key | TEDxSantaBarbara

Summary

In this engaging talk, the speaker introduces a unique approach to problem-solving inspired by the art of magic, highlighting three core psychological principles used by magicians for millennia. The central theme is that solutions often lie in plain sight but are obscured by misconceptions, assumptions, and expectations. Through various demonstrations and examples, including a classic candle problem and a mind-bending animation, the speaker illustrates how reevaluating these cognitive biases can unlock creative problem-solving and lead to innovative ideas in any field.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The power of thinking differently: The speaker introduces a problem-solving technique inspired by the art of magic, emphasizing that the solution to any problem is often right in front of us but not immediately obvious.
• 🕵️‍♂️ The concept of 'functional fixedness': This cognitive bias limits people to using objects only in the traditional way they are intended, which can hinder creative problem-solving.
• 🔮 The candle problem: A classic test of creative problem-solving by Dr. Karl Duncker, highlighting that people often overlook the simple solution because they are fixated on the conventional use of the objects involved.
• 🎩 The magician's approach: The speaker shares personal experiences in magic to illustrate how shifting perspectives can lead to innovative solutions that may not be immediately apparent.
• 🤔 The dangers of misconceptions: People often think that difficult problems require complex solutions, which can prevent them from seeing the simpler answer that is hiding in plain sight.
• 💭 The role of assumptions: Assumptions based on prior knowledge and experience can limit our thinking and prevent us from considering alternative solutions.
• 👁️ Perception and expectations: Our expectations can blind us to what is actually happening, making problem-solving more difficult than it needs to be.
• 🪄 The illusion of choice: A demonstration using cards shows how people can be influenced to focus on one option, ignoring others, which relates to the broader idea of being blinded by misconceptions and assumptions.
• 🔑 The key to unlocking creativity: By challenging assumptions and reevaluating situations, we can expand our cognitive thinking and find solutions that were previously hidden.
• 🎬 Adapting to the medium: The speaker's experience on 'America's Got Talent' shows how understanding the medium and adapting expectations can lead to success.
• 🤹‍♂️ The importance of simplicity: In magic and problem-solving, sometimes the simplest solution is the most effective, but it's often overlooked due to complex thinking and expectations.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the talk based on the provided transcript?

The central theme of the talk is problem-solving through the lens of magic, emphasizing that the solution to every problem often hides in plain sight, and is obscured by misconceptions, assumptions, and expectations.

What is the candle problem presented by Dr. Karl Duncker and how does it relate to cognitive bias?

The candle problem is a classic test of creative problem-solving where participants are given a candle, pushpins, and matches and asked to attach the candle to a wall in a way that wax won't drip onto a table. It relates to cognitive bias through 'functional fixedness,' which is the tendency to use an object only in the traditional way it is intended, thus overlooking alternative uses.

What are the three core psychological principles mentioned in the script that magicians have been using?

The three core psychological principles are misconceptions, assumptions, and expectations. These principles revolve around the idea that solutions to problems are often overlooked due to preconceived notions and biases.

How does the magician use the concept of 'functional fixedness' in the candle problem?

The magician uses the concept of 'functional fixedness' by pointing out that most people focus on attaching the candle to the wall with tacks and overlook the box, which can be used as a platform for the candle, illustrating how our brains can be limited by traditional uses of objects.

What is the purpose of the card trick in the script and how does it demonstrate misconceptions?

The card trick is used to demonstrate how focusing on one card can lead to overlooking the fact that there are two separate sets of cards with similar but different cards. This shows how misconceptions can cause people to miss the solution that is hiding in plain sight.

What is the illusion of the rotating key and how does it relate to false assumptions?

The rotating key illusion is an animation where the key appears to rotate in one direction or the other based on the viewer's perception. It relates to false assumptions because viewers assume the key is rotating in only one direction, missing the fact that it can appear to rotate in both directions due to the lack of visual cues.

How did the magician's appearance on America's Got Talent challenge the producers' expectations?

The magician challenged the producers' expectations by performing close-up magic instead of the big flashy Vegas-style illusions they anticipated. This was based on the insight that television is an intimate medium, and close-up magic is more suited to engage viewers at home.

What is the significance of the magician touching his key and saying 'the answer is hiding in plain sight'?

The significance of the magician touching his key and saying 'the answer is hiding in plain sight' is a clue to the audience to pay attention to details and simple actions, as they may contain the solution to the problems presented in the talk.

What are the challenges presented at the end of the script and how do they relate to the overall theme?

The challenges presented involve drinking champagne from the bottle without opening it and balancing a salt shaker on a dollar bill suspended between two glasses. They relate to the overall theme by illustrating that simple solutions to seemingly complex problems are often overlooked due to misconceptions, assumptions, and expectations.

Why is it said that it's difficult to fool a sophisticated person but easier to fool a child with magic?

It's difficult to fool a sophisticated person because they are more likely to talk themselves out of the simple solution due to their misconceptions and assumptions based on prior knowledge and experience. Children, on the other hand, are less likely to have these biases and may accept the simple explanation.

How does the magician use the principles of problem-solving to enhance the audience's understanding of cognitive biases?

The magician uses interactive illusions and puzzles to demonstrate how cognitive biases like misconceptions, assumptions, and expectations can hinder our ability to see simple solutions to problems. By engaging the audience in these activities, the magician helps them to recognize and overcome these biases.

Outlines

00:00

🧙‍♂️ The Art of Problem Solving Through Magic

The speaker introduces a unique approach to problem-solving inspired by the art of magic. Highlighting the concept that solutions often lie in plain sight, the speaker shares a historical problem-solving test by Dr. Karl Duncker, which involves attaching a candle to a wall using unconventional methods. The principle of 'functional fixedness' is discussed, illustrating how cognitive biases can limit our ability to see simple solutions. The talk promises to reveal three core psychological principles used by magicians for millennia, all centered around the idea that the answer to every problem is often overlooked.

05:00

🎩 Unveiling Misconceptions and Assumptions in Problem Solving

This paragraph delves into the first of the three psychological principles: misconceptions. The speaker uses the candlestick problem to demonstrate how focusing on traditional methods can obscure the simple solution. A card trick is performed to illustrate how people tend to focus on one aspect, missing the broader context where the answer lies. The principle of 'functional fixedness' is revisited, showing how our brains are biased to use objects in conventional ways, which can hinder creative problem-solving. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of reassessing all details to uncover hidden solutions.

10:01

🔄 Overcoming False Assumptions and Expectations

The speaker addresses the second principle, assumptions, particularly false ones, using an animation of a rotating key to demonstrate how our brains can be misled by the lack of visual cues. The audience's perception of the key's rotation direction is challenged, revealing that the key appears to rotate in both directions simultaneously when viewed without preconceived notions. This illustrates the danger of relying on assumptions and the importance of considering all possibilities. The speaker also discusses the impact of expectations on problem-solving, using their experience on 'America's Got Talent' to show how shifting expectations can lead to success.

15:04

🏆 Applying Principles to Unlock Hidden Solutions

In the final paragraph, the speaker recounts their appearance on 'America's Got Talent,' where they had to challenge the producers' expectations of what constitutes successful magic for television. By reframing the concept of intimate magic for a TV audience, the speaker was able to break through traditional barriers and reach the finals. The speaker then presents a series of challenges for the audience to solve, hinting that the answers can be found by revisiting the talk and focusing on the moments when the speaker touches their key and mentions that 'the answer is hiding in plain sight.' The paragraph concludes with a reminder that mastering these principles can help unlock the benefits that are often overlooked.

Keywords

💡Problem Solving

Problem solving is the process of finding solutions to challenging questions or issues. In the video, it is presented as a fundamental skill that can be enhanced through unconventional thinking. The script uses the example of attaching a candle to a wall with wax not dripping onto a table to illustrate the concept of problem solving and how it can be approached creatively.

💡Magic

Magic, in the context of the video, refers to the art of illusion and performance that often involves problem-solving skills. The speaker was introduced to a unique problem-solving technique through the study of magic at a young age, which has continued to influence his professional career and is suggested as a method to approach problem-solving in various fields.

💡Psychological Principles

Psychological principles are the fundamental concepts or rules that govern the behavior and mental processes of individuals. The video discusses three core psychological principles used by magicians for thousands of years, which revolve around the idea that the solution to a problem is often 'hiding in plain sight', implying that the answer is before us but not immediately recognized.

💡Functional Fixedness

Functional fixedness is a cognitive bias that restricts a person to using an object only in the traditional way it is intended. In the script, this concept is illustrated with the candlestick problem, where people are so focused on the candle and tacks that they overlook the box as a potential solution, demonstrating how our preconceived notions can hinder creative problem solving.

💡Misconceptions

Misconceptions are false or mistaken ideas or beliefs. The video emphasizes that misconceptions can lead people to overlook simple solutions in favor of more complex ones. The magician uses the example of the candlestick problem to show how focusing on the wrong aspects can lead to a failure to see the straightforward answer.

💡Assumptions

Assumptions are beliefs or opinions that are taken for granted without proof. The script discusses how assumptions based on prior knowledge and experience can limit one's ability to see beyond the obvious. An example given is the animation of a key that appears to rotate in different directions based on one's perception, challenging the audience's assumptions about the nature of the movement.

💡Expectations

Expectations are beliefs about what will happen or what is typically true in a particular situation. The video explains how expectations can blind us to the actual situation, making problem-solving more difficult. The speaker recounts his experience on 'America's Got Talent', where the producers' expectations of what constitutes successful magic were challenged and ultimately changed.

💡Cognitive Bias

Cognitive bias refers to the systematic errors in thinking that occur due to our limited information processing abilities. The script mentions 'functional fixedness' as a type of cognitive bias that can impede problem-solving by causing us to overlook unconventional uses for objects or situations.

💡Creativity

Creativity is the use of imagination or original ideas to produce something new and valuable. The video script suggests that creativity in problem-solving is not about finding complex solutions but recognizing the simple ones that are often overlooked due to misconceptions, assumptions, and expectations.

💡Intimate Performance

Intimate performance refers to acts that are personal and engaging, often creating a close connection with the audience. The speaker uses his experience on 'America's Got Talent' to illustrate how intimate performances, such as close-up magic, can be more effective on television, a medium that thrives on personal connection.

💡Paradigm Shift

A paradigm shift is a fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions. The video discusses how the speaker was able to achieve success on a television show by challenging the existing paradigm of what kind of magic was expected, leading to a new way of performing that was more suited to the medium.

Highlights

Introduction of a unique problem-solving technique inspired by the art of magic.

The concept that solutions to problems often lie in plain sight, yet are overlooked.

Historical reference to Dr. Karl Duncker's candle problem, a classic test of creative problem-solving.

The psychological principle of 'functional fixedness', which limits the use of objects to their traditional roles.

The importance of looking beyond initial perceptions and assumptions to find solutions.

The three-word simplification of problem-solving: misconceptions, assumptions, and expectations.

A magic trick illustrating the power of focusing on one element while ignoring others.

The danger of misconceptions in problem-solving and how they can lead to overlooking simple solutions.

Demonstration of how false assumptions can lead to incorrect conclusions, using an ambiguous animation.

The idea that our brains fill in missing information, leading to potentially false assumptions.

How expectations can blind us to the actual situation, making problem-solving more difficult.

Personal experience of changing expectations on 'America's Got Talent' to succeed with a different kind of magic.

The concept of hidden clues within the presentation that can help solve the presented challenges.

Challenges presented to the audience that require thinking beyond the obvious to find simple solutions.

The notion that it's often harder to fool an intelligent person than a child due to overthinking.

Final remarks on mastering the principles of problem-solving to unlock the benefits that are always in plain sight.

Transcripts

[Applause]

imagine if you could take your brain and

then turn it inside out and then have

access to the information to be able to

solve virtually any problem it sounds

pretty cool right well here's how we're

gonna take a look at problem solving in

a very different way one that can bring

tremendous benefit to your life and this

is a technique I was first introduced to

at the age of 12 when I began studying

the art form of magic and I've continued

to develop it throughout my professional

career and now best of all this will be

able to work for you

in your personal life professional or to

help you create that next billion-dollar

idea and in any field sales marketing

show business it doesn't matter now

throughout this talk I'm gonna be

revealing to you three core

psychological principles that magicians

have been using for more than 5000 years

and all of these principles have one

thing in common they all revolve around

the most important concept in magic and

that is the answer to every problem is

hiding in plain sight so let me explain

imagine you're seated at a table and

you're given a problem to solve using

nothing except for these items a candle

some pushpins and some matches now

you've got 60 seconds to figure out how

to attach this candle to the wall in a

way that when it's lit the wax will not

drip down onto the table okay so some of

you may be familiar with this but for

the rest of you will you try to figure

this out let me give you a little bit of

history of where this came from

now this is a classic test of creative

problem-solving developed but the

renowned psychologist dr. Karl Duncker

and it was first published in 1945 but

although this is over three-quarters of

a century old

dr. dunkers assessment of our cognitive

brain solves problems hasn't Lee changed

at all again it's back to what I said

earlier the

answer to every problem is hiding in

plain sight you see the thing is we look

right at the answer but we rarely see it

and in this case most people are so

consumed with how to attach the candle

to the wall using tacks

well the real answer is right in front

of them you guys see it the box again

that's what I mean by the answer is

hidden in plain sight and again the

reason we don't think the box is one of

the solutions is because not presented

to us as such it's locked away in our

brain and position simply as a container

for the pins now dr. dunker called this

functional fixedness the cognitive bias

that limits a person to using an object

only in the way that is traditionally

intended and the same is also true of

ideas and concepts for example this

candlestick problem was presented to you

simply as a creative problem-solving

test when in fact it also had a

secondary purpose it contained a very

important clue one that was hiding in

plain sight which you will need to

unlock another facet of your cognitive

problem-solving ability now the thing is

you probably didn't notice because you

weren't instructed to look for it so

right now I'm giving you a heads up

there's going to be one more clue hidden

during this talk so pay close attention

to every detail now to make all this a

lot easier to understand I've simplified

the process into three words the first

word is misconceptions most people think

a difficult problem must have a complex

solution the second word assumptions we

utilize information based upon prior

knowledge and experience we don't think

beyond those parameters and the third

word is expectations the answer we

expect to find often limits us and does

not allow us to see what's really going

on

now I thought it'd be kind of fun to

show you what all three of these words

look like in action and then we'll dive

into each one in a little bit more

detail so for this here got a few bills

two three four I think five dollars here

so here's the goal the goal is be able

to take these bills

if I can do this properly we'll actually

be able to take them on the count of

three we go one two it's real like that

unless you transform into five hundred

dollars okay now I have to say this I

can't promise you'll actually be able to

transform money at your fingertips by

the end of this talk but you will be

able to utilize these same principles

the same principles I just use to turn

$1 bills into hundred-dollar bills to

solve virtually any problem all right so

let's break this whole thing down right

now

starting with misconceptions this the

exact same thing that happens with the

candlestick problem you see most people

are so focused on how to attach the

candlestick they can't figure out

exactly what's going on with the box it

gets buried in their brains and what

happens you have to force your brain to

reassess everything about the situation

every detail to bring the information to

the surface and then be able to expand

your ability to utilize cognitive

thinking so I've got another little

business this is so fun I can't wait to

show you this so this here is a little

thing so guys take a look right over

here we've got a couple cards six cards

to be exact each card is different and

each card has been selected for a very

important psychological reason you'll

find out why in just a moment so right

now I want you to focus on just one card

and remember it keep repeating the name

of your card over and over and over in

your mind you got it great I'm gonna

turn the cards over start mixing them up

now if I did this correctly all of you

yes all of you will have been influenced

to choose the exact same card and I'm

going to remove your card right now

let's see if it worked

so it's pretty crazy right so okay so

how does this happen like I said there

is a psychological reason why these

cards were selected but it is not so

that all of you would be drawn to the

same card it's so that all of you would

focus on only one card and ignore the

rest and that's where the misconception

comes in because what you don't know is

that there's actually two separate sets

of cards again the answer was hiding in

plain sight and the reason you didn't

notice is because both sets of cards are

actually very similar so let's say for

instance in the first spread you

selected the king of clubs in the second

spread it was replaced by the king of

spades so no matter what card you chose

in the first fret is not gonna show up

in the second spread and to top it all

off you were so focused on your one card

you didn't even notice any of the other

cards around it this is why

misconception is so dangerous and it

often makes problem-solving take way

longer than it really should all right

now the next idea we're gonna tackle is

assumptions and more importantly false

assumptions so why don't you take a look

at this animation right now and tell me

which way is the key rotating now some

of you will assume the key is rotating

clockwise others will assume the keys

rotating counterclockwise and both of

those assumptions are wrong you see we

assumed the key is moving in just one

direction or the other but I can assure

you it's not now if you're more of a

right brained user you would like to see

the key rotating to the right if you're

more of a left brained user you'll

likely see the key rotating to the left

but by switching your thinking from

right brain to left brain you'll be able

to shift the direction of the key now

this takes a little bit of practice but

the results are almost magical so how

does this relate to hiding in plain

sight well in this situation our brain

thinks and assumes that there's only one

of two possible answers the only two it

readily knows and accepts the key can

rotate right

or the key can rotate left it's

inconceivable the key can be rotating in

both directions at the same time but you

see if we really study the image we

realize we don't have enough information

to determine the keys direction at all

to see the key is solid black

there's no highlights shadows or any

other distinguishing marks to give us

the appropriate information

now our brain fills in these missing

pieces and we assume because it might

like to work in an orderly fashion that

what we see is the key rotating in one

direction or the other which doesn't

even occur to us that maybe we're

missing the relevant information to make

an informed decision and we assume that

what our mind tells us based on the way

that it chooses to function at that

moment that our logic is correct so the

correct answer to this one is simply

hiding in plain sight depending on your

perception the key rotates in both

directions now there's still one more

crucial word we need to explore and that

is expectations the answer we expect to

find can blind us to what is actually

happening and this is what makes

problem-solving so difficult now a great

example of this is when I was asked to

be on the TV show America's Got Talent

there was just one problem at the time

the producers of the show expected

magicians to perform big flashy Vegas

type illusions which I didn't do now the

reason that America's Got telling one of

these types of Acts was because show was

being taped in front of 6,000 people at

Radio City Music Hall and they wanted

this show to feel huge but I noticed

that none of the magicians ever made it

past the first few rounds so I started

analyzing why I mean they're actually

great in front of 6,000 people in the

audience but to the millions of people

who are watching on TV at home and then

voting there was a disconnect between

the performer again I analyzed why well

television is really an intimate medium

and the best kind of magic for

television is close-up magic as it too

is intimate it draws the viewer in so

armed with this new insight I realized

the answer was right in front of me it

was literally hiding in plain sight I

didn't need to perform big flashy Vegas

type illusions I need

new small close-up intimate performances

that would blow the minds of the judges

and the people watching at home now I

took a bit of convincing to get the

producers to agree to this whole thing

they definitely did not see it the way

that I did at that time but once I was

able to refocus their attention back to

what they already knew which is that

television is intimate therefore the

magic actually be intimate as well they

said okay let's do it

it was a paradigm shifting away from

magic to be done on America's Got Talent

and I actually became the first magician

to ever make it into the finals on that

show thank you now it all happened

because I was able to shift the

producers expectations of what they

thought would work so right now it's

time for me to shift yours as I

mentioned earlier throughout this entire

talk I've given you two clues to the

problems I'm about to show you right now

now you may or may not have noticed them

and if you didn't here's a little hint

if you go back and watch this again

you'll notice that every time I touch my

key say the answer is hiding in plain

sight I would point to the clue that you

will need to quickly solve these next

few problems now there's a chance you

probably just didn't even notice that

that you perceive the touch gets lucky

just an irrelevant gesture you didn't

expect such a simple action could

contain the answer to what you perceived

as a much more complicated problem so

here are the challenges the first one

how do you drink champagne from the

bottle without opening it immediately

your mom will start thinking of all

these different solutions most of which

probably have to do with a complicated

way of getting the cork off and getting

the champagne out without actually

opening up the bottle keep thinking the

next one here involves two glasses

a dollar bill suspended between them and

a salt shaker and the challenge is to

get the salt shaker to balance on top of

the dollar bill while staying suspended

so when you let go it won't drop down to

the table again the answer is probably a

lot easier than you think

also again if you want to learn these

all you gotta do is just watch this

again and look for the times when I

touch my key point and say the answer is

hiding in plain sight now this here is

actually what people consider a bar bet

so if you're familiar with magic and

puzzles

you probably recognize it and it uses

the exact same principles that magicians

have been using all along if you had a

bit of difficulty like figuring it out

don't worry because it's actually much

easier to fool a really intelligent

person than someone who maybe isn't

quite as sophisticated I got you I got

you but it's really true it's actually

very difficult to fool children and I'll

explain why for a really sophisticated

person you will almost always talk

yourself out of the simple solution even

though it's the right solution your

misconception will cause you to overlook

the obvious now this also has you call

create a false set of assumptions for

example a child will see a lady floating

in the air and say yeah well there are

strings holding her up a more

sophisticated person would say but see

that I can't see any strings plus it

would take a lot of strings to support

the weight of a person the utilize

information based upon prior knowledge

and experience and they don't go beyond

those parameters and finally they create

a false set of expectations because a

magician passed a hoop around the lady

they allow this one simple action to

blind them from the truth it's the

perfect example of misconceptions

assumptions and expectations all working

against you all stopping you from

achieving your goal but once you master

these principles you will be able to

unleash the answers and realize the

benefits that are always hiding in plain

sight thank you thank you all so much

[Applause]

[Music]