The benefits of flexible thinking | BBC Ideas

Summary

Psychological flexibility is more than just personality; it's about how we relate to ourselves. It involves adjusting thoughts, actions, and feelings to different situations to achieve goals. Experiences shape brain development, and exposure to varied experiences enhances flexibility. The Stroop test demonstrates this concept, showing how shifting focus is a sign of cognitive flexibility. The ability to predict or learn from new information is key. Flexibility allows people to adapt to stress and move from languishing to fulfilling their potential. Cultivating diverse experiences is crucial for maintaining a flexible, adaptable mind.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Psychological flexibility is more than just addressing personality, it's about how we relate to ourselves.
• 🔄 Flexibility involves adjusting thoughts, actions, and feelings to changing circumstances to achieve goals.
• 👶 Infant brains are born under construction and are shaped by their experiences in the world.
• 🌍 Exposing children to a wide variety of experiences helps them develop mental flexibility and adaptability.
• 🔒 Restricting a child’s experiences can limit their ability to adjust to different situations.
• 📝 The Stroop test demonstrates flexibility by challenging individuals to switch between different pieces of information.
• 🤔 Cognitive inflexibility is linked to a struggle with processing conflicting information, like in the Stroop test.
• 🎓 Learning happens when the brain encounters new, unpredictable information and updates its predictions.
• 🔧 Psychological flexibility helps people use available resources effectively to manage stress and adapt.
• 🌱 Cultivating experiences and seeking new information helps maintain a flexible brain, leading to better problem-solving.

Q & A

What does psychological flexibility involve?

Psychological flexibility involves adjusting thoughts, actions, and feelings to adapt to changing circumstances in order to behave in a functional way to achieve goals.

How does the brain develop flexibility during infancy?

The infant brain is born under construction, and exposure to varying experiences helps wire the brain to be more flexible and capable of learning when necessary.

What is the impact of restricted experiences on a child's brain development?

If a child's experiences are very restricted, it limits the child's ability to develop flexibility, making it harder to adjust actions to different situations.

What is the Stroop test and how does it demonstrate cognitive flexibility?

The Stroop test involves naming the color of ink for words that describe different colors. It demonstrates cognitive flexibility by requiring people to switch between different pieces of information in their minds, as reading the word interferes with stating the color.

What does it mean when the brain encounters prediction errors?

Prediction errors occur when the brain cannot predict something accurately, forcing the brain to either learn and update its knowledge or ignore the new information and stick with its original prediction.

How does psychological inflexibility manifest in stressful situations?

Psychological inflexibility often results in people using a very narrow range of resources to adapt to stress, which may prevent them from effectively handling the situation.

What is the goal of psychological flexibility?

The goal of psychological flexibility is to move individuals from a state of 'languishing'—feeling stuck in a less satisfactory situation—into a state where they can achieve more of their potential.

Why do people struggle to change their lives from a state of low satisfaction to higher satisfaction?

People often struggle due to inflexibility in the way they approach problems. This prevents them from adapting effectively to new circumstances or finding solutions.

How can people take more control over their environment to promote psychological flexibility?

People can take more control by cultivating new experiences, foraging for new information, and exposing themselves to ideas they may not be familiar with, which helps the brain become more flexible in solving problems.

Why is exposing oneself to new or uncomfortable experiences beneficial for the brain?

Exposing oneself to new or uncomfortable experiences introduces prediction errors, which allow the brain to adapt, learn, and solve future problems more flexibly. While it may feel unpleasant in the moment, it’s an investment in long-term brain flexibility.