This is the Presentation I gave at Nerd Nite Miami.
It's a very broad overview of the rationality movement. It talks very briefly about how we can learn to use our minds better by understanding their limitations and the ways they evolved.
12. ‘Trying to concentrate is like trying to catch the
spinning of a top or like trying to get a better view of
the darkness by lighting a candle.’ William James
Ironic Processes and Infinite Loops
High fat foods, high protein foods, and glucose in general were in short supply
A fat, lazy caveman is a happy caveman.
Now, natural selection is COMPLETELY off of the table for humans.
www.paleoista.com image source
Evolution can never revise existing mental machinery it can only add to it. This can create conflicts in creatures with tripartite brains (humans).
How does Sherlock Holmes notice a bunch of things that no on else does? He very probably already knows what to look for.
This is why people with anxiety disorders can get into bad feedback loops! Concentration is an infinite loop in your programming!
Reward yourself with sugar and smiles
We aren’t adapted for bad music. We *are* adapted for severe physical trauma. If you had a choice between listening to bad music and quadriplegia.
Infiniteloop.com or rainymood.com
We have mental machinery to adapt to loosing limbs or discomfort, we don’t have the mental machinery to ignore loud interrupting noises, chronic pain or depression.
Consistency is key! This is why people hate bad commutes – commutes vary so much that it makes us crazy! Habits are king!
Video Game music is designed to keep you entranced.
Classical music is also money!
Image source: http://derek.broox.com/photos/8035-music-festival/12958/
www.infiniteloop.com with videogame music
www.rainymood.com
Doctor Tim Noakes believes that fatigue, even mental fatigue, is better classified as an emotional state than a physical one.
The idea: Short frequent breaks prevent your mind’s ‘central governor’ from initiating fatigue.
In other words, short frequent breaks prevent your mind from saying, ‘We’re using too much energy! Make this thinker feel tired; and, they’ll slow down!’
Image Source: www.ironman.com
This was someone’s art project.
Money makes us primed to work alone; and, less likely to enjoy simple pleasures!
Discovery by psychologists- it is very difficult to switch mental modules, esp. under a time constraint.
Her youthful face is making us more protective. Her eyes (especially because they are accusing) are making us more *moral.
This is why ‘Big Brother is watching’ was everywhere in 1984. Also, the reason for the Big Eyes in The Great Gatsby.
Daniel Kahneman, ‘It’s very difficult to switch mental modules, especially under a time constraint.’ To improve performance you should just do a task of a type until it is finished.
James Gleick, ‘Quote about Focus’ Journalist James Gleick said that geniuses have one salient focus and that is genius!