https://moresapien.org/https://moresapien.org/about/https://moresapien.org/ad-hominem/https://moresapien.org/og/ad-hominem.pngAd Hominem - Logical Fallacy. Attacking the person making the argument instead of the argument itself.Ad Hominem - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/affect-heuristic/https://moresapien.org/og/affect-heuristic.pngAffect Heuristic - Cognitive Bias. We make judgements based on our current emotions rather than objective analysis.Affect Heuristic - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/anchoring-bias/https://moresapien.org/og/anchoring-bias.pngAnchoring Bias - Cognitive Bias. The first number or piece of information we hear disproportionately shapes everything that follows.Anchoring Bias - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/appeal-to-emotion/https://moresapien.org/og/appeal-to-emotion.pngAppeal to Emotion - Logical Fallacy. Substituting feelings for evidence to win an argument.Appeal to Emotion - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/appeal-to-false-authority/https://moresapien.org/og/appeal-to-false-authority.pngAppeal to False Authority - Logical Fallacy. Using a source that sounds authoritative but isn't actually reliable or relevant as the foundation of an argument.Appeal to False Authority - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/appeal-to-nature/https://moresapien.org/og/appeal-to-nature.pngAppeal to Nature - Logical Fallacy. The assumption that something is good because it's natural, or bad because it's artificial.Appeal to Nature - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/authority-bias/https://moresapien.org/og/authority-bias.pngAuthority Bias - Cognitive Bias. We give disproportionate weight to the opinions of people we perceive as authorities - even outside their expertise.Authority Bias - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/availability-heuristic/https://moresapien.org/og/availability-heuristic.pngAvailability Heuristic - Cognitive Bias. We judge how likely something is based on how easily an example comes to mind.Availability Heuristic - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/aversive-racism/https://moresapien.org/og/aversive-racism.pngAversive Racism - Psychological Phenomenon. When people who genuinely believe they are not prejudiced still harbour unconscious biases that shape their behaviour in subtle ways.Aversive Racism - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/backfire-effect/https://moresapien.org/og/backfire-effect.pngBackfire Effect - Psychological Phenomenon. Correcting someone's false belief can actually make them believe it more strongly.Backfire Effect - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/bandwagon-effect/https://moresapien.org/og/bandwagon-effect.pngBandwagon Effect - Cognitive Bias. We're more likely to believe or do something if lots of other people already do.Bandwagon Effect - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/ben-franklin-effect/https://moresapien.org/og/ben-franklin-effect.pngBen Franklin Effect - Cognitive Bias. We grow to like people we've done favours for, not just people who've done favours for us.Ben Franklin Effect - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/betrayal-aversion/https://moresapien.org/og/betrayal-aversion.pngBetrayal Aversion - Psychological Phenomenon. Harm that comes with a violation of trust hurts far more than the same harm without it.Betrayal Aversion - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/burden-of-proof/https://moresapien.org/og/burden-of-proof.pngBurden of Proof - Logical Fallacy. Demanding that someone disprove your claim, rather than proving it yourself.Burden of Proof - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/bystander-effect/https://moresapien.org/og/bystander-effect.pngBystander Effect - Psychological Phenomenon. The more people who witness an emergency, the less likely any one person is to help.Bystander Effect - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/circle-of-competence/https://moresapien.org/og/circle-of-competence.pngCircle of Competence - Mental Model. Knowing the boundaries of what you actually understand - and being honest about where those boundaries lie.Circle of Competence - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/circular-reasoning/https://moresapien.org/og/circular-reasoning.pngCircular Reasoning - Logical Fallacy. Using your conclusion as your premise - the argument proves itself by assuming itself.Circular Reasoning - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/cognitive-dissonance/https://moresapien.org/og/cognitive-dissonance.pngCognitive Dissonance - Cognitive Bias. The uncomfortable tension we feel when holding two contradictory beliefs at the same time.Cognitive Dissonance - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/collections/https://moresapien.org/collections/fallen-heroes/https://moresapien.org/collections/how-bad-information-becomes-common-knowledge/https://moresapien.org/collections/misinformation-toolkit/https://moresapien.org/collections/why-we-think-everyone-agrees-with-us/https://moresapien.org/collections/why-wed-rather-have-less/https://moresapien.org/compartmentalisation/https://moresapien.org/og/compartmentalisation.pngCompartmentalisation - Psychological Defence. Holding contradictory beliefs or values by keeping them in separate mental boxes that never touch.Compartmentalisation - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/compassion-fatigue/https://moresapien.org/og/compassion-fatigue.pngCompassion Fatigue - Psychological Phenomenon. Repeated exposure to suffering gradually reduces your capacity to care.Compassion Fatigue - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/concern-trolling/https://moresapien.org/og/concern-trolling.pngConcern Trolling - Manipulation Tactic. Pretending to be sympathetic or worried in order to undermine.Concern Trolling - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/confirmation-bias/https://moresapien.org/og/confirmation-bias.pngConfirmation Bias - Cognitive Bias. We seek out information that supports what we already believe, and ignore what doesn't.Confirmation Bias - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/connections/https://moresapien.org/darvo/https://moresapien.org/og/darvo.pngDARVO - Manipulation Tactic. Deny the behaviour, Attack the person who raised it, Reverse the roles of Victim and Offender.DARVO - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/denial/https://moresapien.org/og/denial.pngDenial - Psychological Defence. Refusing to accept reality because it's too threatening to process.Denial - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/dog-whistling/https://moresapien.org/og/dog-whistling.pngDog Whistling - Manipulation Tactic. Using coded language that sounds innocent to most people but carries a specific prejudiced message to a target audience.Dog Whistling - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/dunning-kruger-effect/https://moresapien.org/og/dunning-kruger-effect.pngDunning-Kruger Effect - Cognitive Bias. The less you know about something, the more confident you're likely to feel about it.Dunning-Kruger Effect - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/emergence/https://moresapien.org/og/emergence.pngEmergence - Systems Thinking. Complex behaviours arising from simple rules, with no central plan or control.Emergence - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/euphemism/https://moresapien.org/og/euphemism.pngEuphemism - Rhetorical Device. Softening an unpleasant reality with gentler, vaguer words.Euphemism - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/expectancy-violation/https://moresapien.org/og/expectancy-violation.pngExpectancy Violation - Psychological Phenomenon. When someone behaves differently from what we expected, our emotional reaction is amplified - for better or worse.Expectancy Violation - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/false-balance/https://moresapien.org/og/false-balance.pngFalse Balance - Rhetorical Device. Presenting two sides as equally valid when the evidence overwhelmingly favours one.False Balance - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/false-consensus-effect/https://moresapien.org/og/false-consensus-effect.pngFalse Consensus Effect - Cognitive Bias. We tend to assume that most people think the way we do - and we're usually wrong.False Consensus Effect - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/false-dilemma/https://moresapien.org/og/false-dilemma.pngFalse Dilemma - Logical Fallacy. When someone presents only two options, even though more exist.False Dilemma - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/false-equivalence/https://moresapien.org/og/false-equivalence.pngFalse Equivalence - Logical Fallacy. Treating two things as equally valid or important when they clearly aren't.False Equivalence - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/feedback-loops/https://moresapien.org/og/feedback-loops.pngFeedback Loops - Systems Thinking. When the output of a system feeds back in as input, either amplifying or dampening the original effect.Feedback Loops - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/firehose-of-falsehood/https://moresapien.org/og/firehose-of-falsehood.pngFirehose of Falsehood - Manipulation Tactic. Flooding the information space with so many lies, half-truths, and contradictions that people give up trying to figure out what's true.Firehose of Falsehood - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/first-principles-thinking/https://moresapien.org/og/first-principles-thinking.pngFirst Principles Thinking - Mental Model. Breaking a problem down to its most fundamental truths and reasoning up from there, rather than relying on analogy or convention.First Principles Thinking - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/framing-effect/https://moresapien.org/og/framing-effect.pngFraming Effect - Rhetorical Device. The way information is presented changes how we respond to it - even when the underlying facts are identical.Framing Effect - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/fundamental-attribution-error/https://moresapien.org/og/fundamental-attribution-error.pngFundamental Attribution Error - Cognitive Bias. When others mess up, we blame their character. When we mess up, we blame the situation.Fundamental Attribution Error - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/gaslighting/https://moresapien.org/og/gaslighting.pngGaslighting - Manipulation Tactic. Making someone doubt their own perception of reality.Gaslighting - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/gish-gallop/https://moresapien.org/og/gish-gallop.pngGish Gallop - Manipulation Tactic. Overwhelming someone with a flood of arguments, regardless of their accuracy, so they can't possibly respond to them all.Gish Gallop - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/halo-effect/https://moresapien.org/og/halo-effect.pngHalo Effect - Cognitive Bias. One positive trait colours your entire perception of a person, product, or idea.Halo Effect - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/hanlons-razor/https://moresapien.org/og/hanlons-razor.pngHanlon's Razor - Mental Model. Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence, ignorance, or accident.Hanlon's Razor - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/hasty-generalisation/https://moresapien.org/og/hasty-generalisation.pngHasty Generalisation - Logical Fallacy. Drawing a broad conclusion from too few examples.Hasty Generalisation - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/hindsight-bias/https://moresapien.org/og/hindsight-bias.pngHindsight Bias - Cognitive Bias. After something happens, we convince ourselves we knew it all along.Hindsight Bias - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/illusory-truth-effect/https://moresapien.org/og/illusory-truth-effect.pngIllusory Truth Effect - Psychological Phenomenon. The more often we hear something, the more likely we are to believe it - regardless of whether it's true.Illusory Truth Effect - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/in-group-out-group-bias/https://moresapien.org/og/in-group-out-group-bias.pngIn-group/Out-group Bias - Cognitive Bias. We automatically trust people who seem like us and distrust people who don't.In-group/Out-group Bias - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/independent-evaluation/https://moresapien.org/og/independent-evaluation.pngIndependent Evaluation - Mental Model. Forming your own judgement before hearing what everyone else thinks.Independent Evaluation - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/inversion/https://moresapien.org/og/inversion.pngInversion - Mental Model. Instead of asking how to succeed, ask how you would guarantee failure - then avoid those things.Inversion - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/just-world-fallacy/https://moresapien.org/og/just-world-fallacy.pngJust-World Fallacy - Logical Fallacy. The belief that people generally get what they deserve - that the world is fundamentally fair.Just-World Fallacy - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/learned-helplessness/https://moresapien.org/og/learned-helplessness.pngLearned Helplessness - Psychological Phenomenon. When repeated failure or lack of control teaches us to stop trying - even when things change.Learned Helplessness - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/loaded-language/https://moresapien.org/og/loaded-language.pngLoaded Language - Rhetorical Device. Words chosen for their emotional charge rather than their accuracy.Loaded Language - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/loss-aversion/https://moresapien.org/og/loss-aversion.pngLoss Aversion - Cognitive Bias. Losses hurt roughly twice as much as equivalent gains feel good.Loss Aversion - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/manufactured-consent/https://moresapien.org/og/manufactured-consent.pngManufactured Consent - Political Theory. When media systems produce public agreement with elite interests - not through censorship, but through structure.Manufactured Consent - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/map-is-not-the-territory/https://moresapien.org/og/map-is-not-the-territory.pngMap is Not the Territory - Mental Model. Every model of reality is a simplification - useful, but never the full picture.Map is Not the Territory - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/microaggressions/https://moresapien.org/og/microaggressions.pngMicroaggressions - Psychological Phenomenon. Small, everyday slights and indignities - often unintentional - that communicate hostility or prejudice toward members of marginalised groups.Microaggressions - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/moral-hypocrisy-judgement/https://moresapien.org/og/moral-hypocrisy-judgement.pngMoral Hypocrisy Judgement - Psychological Phenomenon. We punish the contradiction between someone's stated values and their behaviour more harshly than we punish the behaviour alone.Moral Hypocrisy Judgement - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/moral-licensing/https://moresapien.org/og/moral-licensing.pngMoral Licensing - Psychological Phenomenon. Doing something good gives you unconscious permission to do something bad.Moral Licensing - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/moral-panic/https://moresapien.org/og/moral-panic.pngMoral Panic - Political Theory. Intense public fear about a perceived threat, amplified by media, disproportionate to the actual danger.Moral Panic - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/motivated-reasoning/https://moresapien.org/og/motivated-reasoning.pngMotivated Reasoning - Psychological Defence. Using our intelligence not to find truth but to defend conclusions we've already reached.Motivated Reasoning - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/motte-and-bailey/https://moresapien.org/og/motte-and-bailey.pngMotte-and-Bailey - Manipulation Tactic. Holding a controversial position but retreating to a much more defensible one when challenged - then switching back once the pressure's off.Motte-and-Bailey - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/moving-the-goalposts/https://moresapien.org/og/moving-the-goalposts.pngMoving the Goalposts - Logical Fallacy. Changing the criteria for proof after the original criteria have been met.Moving the Goalposts - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/naive-realism/https://moresapien.org/og/naive-realism.pngNaive Realism - Cognitive Bias. The belief that you see the world objectively - and that anyone who disagrees must be uninformed, irrational, or biased.Naive Realism - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/negativity-bias/https://moresapien.org/og/negativity-bias.pngNegativity Bias - Cognitive Bias. Bad experiences affect us more powerfully than equally good ones.Negativity Bias - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/normalcy-bias/https://moresapien.org/og/normalcy-bias.pngNormalcy Bias - Psychological Phenomenon. The assumption that because things have always been a certain way, they will continue to be.Normalcy Bias - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/occams-razor/https://moresapien.org/og/occams-razor.pngOccam's Razor - Mental Model. The simplest explanation that fits the facts is usually the right one.Occam's Razor - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/opportunity-cost/https://moresapien.org/og/opportunity-cost.pngOpportunity Cost - Mental Model. Every choice has a hidden price: the thing you didn't choose.Opportunity Cost - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/overton-window/https://moresapien.org/og/overton-window.pngOverton Window - Political Theory. The range of ideas the public considers acceptable at any given time - and how that range can be deliberately shifted.Overton Window - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/paradox-of-tolerance/https://moresapien.org/og/paradox-of-tolerance.pngParadox of Tolerance - Political Theory. A tolerant society that tolerates intolerance will eventually be destroyed by it.Paradox of Tolerance - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/pluralistic-ignorance/https://moresapien.org/og/pluralistic-ignorance.pngPluralistic Ignorance - Psychological Phenomenon. When most people in a group privately disagree with a norm but go along with it because they assume everyone else agrees.Pluralistic Ignorance - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/post-hoc/https://moresapien.org/og/post-hoc.pngPost Hoc - Logical Fallacy. Assuming that because one thing followed another, the first thing caused the second.Post Hoc - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/probabilistic-thinking/https://moresapien.org/og/probabilistic-thinking.pngProbabilistic Thinking - Mental Model. Thinking in likelihoods rather than certainties - because almost nothing is truly yes or no.Probabilistic Thinking - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/psychological-projection/https://moresapien.org/og/psychological-projection.pngPsychological Projection - Psychological Defence. Attributing your own feelings, motives, or behaviours to someone else.Psychological Projection - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/rationalisation/https://moresapien.org/og/rationalisation.pngRationalisation - Psychological Defence. Constructing a logical-sounding justification for a decision you actually made for emotional or self-serving reasons.Rationalisation - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/red-herring/https://moresapien.org/og/red-herring.pngRed Herring - Logical Fallacy. Introducing something irrelevant to divert attention from the actual issue.Red Herring - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/relative-deprivation/https://moresapien.org/og/relative-deprivation.pngRelative Deprivation - Psychological Phenomenon. Feeling worse off based on who you compare yourself to, not on what you actually have.Relative Deprivation - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/scapegoating/https://moresapien.org/og/scapegoating.pngScapegoating - Rhetorical Device. Blaming a person or group for problems they didn't cause.Scapegoating - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/sealioning/https://moresapien.org/og/sealioning.pngSealioning - Manipulation Tactic. Endlessly demanding evidence or explanations in bad faith, disguised as polite curiosity.Sealioning - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/second-order-thinking/https://moresapien.org/og/second-order-thinking.pngSecond-Order Thinking - Mental Model. Asking 'and then what?' - looking beyond the immediate consequences to what happens next.Second-Order Thinking - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/slippery-slope/https://moresapien.org/og/slippery-slope.pngSlippery Slope - Logical Fallacy. Arguing that one step will inevitably lead to an extreme outcome, without justifying the chain of events in between.Slippery Slope - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/social-proof/https://moresapien.org/og/social-proof.pngSocial Proof - Psychological Phenomenon. Looking to other people's behaviour to decide what's correct.Social Proof - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/source-laundering/https://moresapien.org/og/source-laundering.pngSource Laundering - Manipulation Tactic. Passing unreliable information through credible-looking channels until it appears legitimate.Source Laundering - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/state-of-nature-assumption/https://moresapien.org/og/state-of-nature-assumption.pngState of Nature Assumption - Mental Model. The unconscious belief about whether people are fundamentally selfish or fundamentally cooperative - and how that shapes everything else you think.State of Nature Assumption - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/straw-man/https://moresapien.org/og/straw-man.pngStraw Man - Logical Fallacy. Misrepresenting someone's argument to make it easier to attack.Straw Man - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/sunk-cost-fallacy/https://moresapien.org/og/sunk-cost-fallacy.pngSunk Cost Fallacy - Cognitive Bias. Continuing to invest in something because of what you've already put in, not because of what you'll get out.Sunk Cost Fallacy - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/survivorship-bias/https://moresapien.org/og/survivorship-bias.pngSurvivorship Bias - Cognitive Bias. We only see the winners, so we misjudge what it takes to succeed.Survivorship Bias - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/symbolic-racism/https://moresapien.org/og/symbolic-racism.pngSymbolic Racism - Psychological Phenomenon. When prejudice is expressed not through overt hostility but through opposition to policies and positions associated with marginalised groups, framed in the language of fairness and principle.Symbolic Racism - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/thought-terminating-cliche/https://moresapien.org/og/thought-terminating-cliche.pngThought-Terminating Cliche - Rhetorical Device. A phrase that sounds wise but actually shuts down critical thinking.Thought-Terminating Cliche - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/tone-policing/https://moresapien.org/og/tone-policing.pngTone Policing - Manipulation Tactic. Dismissing an argument by criticising how it's being made rather than what's being said.Tone Policing - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/tragedy-of-the-commons/https://moresapien.org/og/tragedy-of-the-commons.pngTragedy of the Commons - Systems Thinking. When individuals acting in their own rational interest collectively destroy a shared resource.Tragedy of the Commons - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/unintended-consequences/https://moresapien.org/og/unintended-consequences.pngUnintended Consequences - Systems Thinking. Actions in complex systems produce outcomes nobody planned for.Unintended Consequences - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/victim-perpetrator-cycle/https://moresapien.org/og/victim-perpetrator-cycle.pngVictim-Perpetrator Cycle - Psychological Phenomenon. Groups that have suffered persecution can, once they gain power, go on to persecute others - often using their past suffering as justification.Victim-Perpetrator Cycle - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/weasel-words/https://moresapien.org/og/weasel-words.pngWeasel Words - Rhetorical Device. Language that sounds specific but commits to nothing.Weasel Words - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/whataboutism/https://moresapien.org/og/whataboutism.pngWhataboutism - Manipulation Tactic. Deflecting criticism by pointing to someone else's wrongdoing instead of addressing the original point.Whataboutism - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/woozle-effect/https://moresapien.org/og/woozle-effect.pngWoozle Effect - Psychological Phenomenon. When a weak or unsupported claim gets cited and re-cited until it starts looking like established fact.Woozle Effect - Moresapienhttps://moresapien.org/zero-sum-thinking/https://moresapien.org/og/zero-sum-thinking.pngZero-Sum Thinking - Cognitive Bias. The assumption that any situation is a competition where one person's gain must be another's loss.Zero-Sum Thinking - Moresapien