The truth is, there are many possible reasons why your colleague might look displeased. She could have forgotten to lock her car, recalled an email she never sent, or even smelled something funny in the air\u2026but if you chose the latter two responses, you\u2019ve already decided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This article will look at what happens when we jump to conclusions, just like I\u2019ve described in this example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ll explore how these snap judgments can happen, why they\u2019re more likely when you\u2019re stressed, and how you can stop this unhelpful habit from getting the better of you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Why Do We Jump To Conclusions?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s all in your mind\u2014or at least a large part of it is. If you were quick to assume why your colleague frowned in our example, you made what\u2019s known as a snap judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this scenario, your brain jumped on the first piece of information you received and neglected everything that came after. Essentially, it \u201cjumped over\u201d or skipped the next steps in the reasoning process, e.g., considering all the possibilities, weighing up their likelihood, looking at your context for more clues, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We humans are inclined to mental shortcuts like these based on our experience and because it sometimes helps us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Your window is broken when you return home one day, and you call the police. Turns out a dangerous criminal broke into your home and was still there<\/em>\u2014by jumping to that conclusion, you potentially saved your own life. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Your car makes a strange noise, and you think, \u201cSomething terrible is wrong!\u201d <\/em>You stop, check your brakes, and find out they aren\u2019t working. Your life is saved.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
With both of these scenarios in mind, what do you think you would conclude next time you return to a broken window or your car starts making a noise?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So mental shortcuts can save us time and prompt us to take immediate action, which might sometimes be life-saving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for most day-to-day situations, such as your colleague\u2019s frown, it\u2019s more likely that you need to think through, reflect, and evaluate a little more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s look at an example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a>Vase or Face?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTake a moment to look at the following image. What do you see?<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sphereofinfluence360.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/SOI360-Face-Vase-No-Text-1024x724.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis optical illusion is a great example of how easily our minds can be tricked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This Ambiguous Figure, created by the psychologist and philosopher Edgar John Rubin, can be interpreted in two ways. There\u2019s more to it than meets the eye, and it\u2019s almost impossible not to see the second option in sharp contrast once you know about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what did you see?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you answered \u201cvase,\u201d the purple part of the image was probably the first information your brain received. You likely started filling in the base of the vase, the top, and the decorative outline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, switch your attention to the white of the image and think of the narrowest indent as the tips of two noses, the double indent below as lips, and the topmost indent as the outline of eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you answered \u201cfaces,\u201d try this: focus on the edges of the profile of each face forming the profile of a decorative, symmetrical vase. What you experience as you shift between the two images is known as a \u201cGestalt switch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nYou\u2019re More Vulnerable When You\u2019re Stressed<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBy now, you might be starting to see why such mental shortcuts are far more likely when you\u2019re stressed out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you are under pressure, it\u2019s far easier to focus on the potential negatives of the first stimulus your brain receives, such as a colleague\u2019s frown. Stress can also make you feel as if you are running out of time: that a quick decision is needed, and that there\u2019s no time for you to explore all the options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I created the Jumping To Conclusions <\/em>Stress Coaching Card<\/a><\/strong> <\/em>because this shortcut is a recognized cognitive bias. Also known as the Confirmation Bias<\/strong><\/em><\/a>, hasty snap decisions can be damaging to your work, mental health, and relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNow, I\u2019m going to show you what you can do instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With both of these scenarios in mind, what do you think you would conclude next time you return to a broken window or your car starts making a noise?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So mental shortcuts can save us time and prompt us to take immediate action, which might sometimes be life-saving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for most day-to-day situations, such as your colleague\u2019s frown, it\u2019s more likely that you need to think through, reflect, and evaluate a little more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s look at an example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Vase or Face?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTake a moment to look at the following image. What do you see?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis optical illusion is a great example of how easily our minds can be tricked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This Ambiguous Figure, created by the psychologist and philosopher Edgar John Rubin, can be interpreted in two ways. There\u2019s more to it than meets the eye, and it\u2019s almost impossible not to see the second option in sharp contrast once you know about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what did you see?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you answered \u201cvase,\u201d the purple part of the image was probably the first information your brain received. You likely started filling in the base of the vase, the top, and the decorative outline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, switch your attention to the white of the image and think of the narrowest indent as the tips of two noses, the double indent below as lips, and the topmost indent as the outline of eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you answered \u201cfaces,\u201d try this: focus on the edges of the profile of each face forming the profile of a decorative, symmetrical vase. What you experience as you shift between the two images is known as a \u201cGestalt switch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nYou\u2019re More Vulnerable When You\u2019re Stressed<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBy now, you might be starting to see why such mental shortcuts are far more likely when you\u2019re stressed out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you are under pressure, it\u2019s far easier to focus on the potential negatives of the first stimulus your brain receives, such as a colleague\u2019s frown. Stress can also make you feel as if you are running out of time: that a quick decision is needed, and that there\u2019s no time for you to explore all the options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I created the Jumping To Conclusions <\/em>Stress Coaching Card<\/a><\/strong> <\/em>because this shortcut is a recognized cognitive bias. Also known as the Confirmation Bias<\/strong><\/em><\/a>, hasty snap decisions can be damaging to your work, mental health, and relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNow, I\u2019m going to show you what you can do instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis optical illusion is a great example of how easily our minds can be tricked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This Ambiguous Figure, created by the psychologist and philosopher Edgar John Rubin, can be interpreted in two ways. There\u2019s more to it than meets the eye, and it\u2019s almost impossible not to see the second option in sharp contrast once you know about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what did you see?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you answered \u201cvase,\u201d the purple part of the image was probably the first information your brain received. You likely started filling in the base of the vase, the top, and the decorative outline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, switch your attention to the white of the image and think of the narrowest indent as the tips of two noses, the double indent below as lips, and the topmost indent as the outline of eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you answered \u201cfaces,\u201d try this: focus on the edges of the profile of each face forming the profile of a decorative, symmetrical vase. What you experience as you shift between the two images is known as a \u201cGestalt switch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019re More Vulnerable When You\u2019re Stressed<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBy now, you might be starting to see why such mental shortcuts are far more likely when you\u2019re stressed out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you are under pressure, it\u2019s far easier to focus on the potential negatives of the first stimulus your brain receives, such as a colleague\u2019s frown. Stress can also make you feel as if you are running out of time: that a quick decision is needed, and that there\u2019s no time for you to explore all the options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I created the Jumping To Conclusions <\/em>Stress Coaching Card<\/a><\/strong> <\/em>because this shortcut is a recognized cognitive bias. Also known as the Confirmation Bias<\/strong><\/em><\/a>, hasty snap decisions can be damaging to your work, mental health, and relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNow, I\u2019m going to show you what you can do instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, I\u2019m going to show you what you can do instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n