COGNITIVE BIAS: Negativity V. Pessimism

Posted on March 30, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

***

Negativity bias is not totally separate from pessimism bias, but it is subtly and importantly distinct. In fact, it works according to similar mechanics as the sunk cost fallacy in that it reflects our profound aversion to losing. We like to win, but we hate to lose even more.

And so, according to cognitive scientist Mackenzie Marcinko PhD, when we make a decision, we generally think in terms of outcomes—either positive or negative. The bias comes into play when we irrationally weigh the potential for a negative outcome as more important than that of a positive outcome.

***

***

Pessimism bias on the other hand, is a cognitive bias that causes people to overestimate the likelihood of negative things and underestimate the likelihood of positive things, especially when it comes to assuming that future events will have a bad outcome.

For example, the pessimism bias could cause someone to believe that they’re going to fail an exam, even though they’re well-prepared and are likely to get a good grade.

According to colleague Dan Ariely PhD, The pessimism bias can distort people’s thinking, including your own, in a way that leads to irrational decision-making, as well as to various issues with your mental health and emotional well being.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Subscribe Today!

***

***

Filed under: "Doctors Only", Ethics, Experts Invited, Glossary Terms, iMBA, Inc., LifeStyle, mental health | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

THEORY: Linguistics and Cognitive Sciences

Posted on March 28, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

Sponsor: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

***

Avram Noam Chomsky is an American professor known for his traditional work in linguistics and political activism. Sometimes called “the father of modern linguistics”, Chomsky is also one of the founders of the field of cognitive science. He is a laureate professor of linguistics at the University of Arizona and an professor emeritus at MIT.

And so, modern linguists today approach their work with scientific rigor and perspective [STEM], although they use methods that were once thought to be solely an academic discipline of the humanities.

Contrary to this humanitarian belief, according to Professor Mackenzie Hope Marcinko PhD of the University of Delaware, linguistics is now multidisciplinary. It overlaps each of the human sciences including psychology, neurology, anthropology, and sociology. Linguists conduct formal studies of sound structure, grammar and meaning, but also investigate the history of language families, and research language acquisition.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Subscribe and Refer

***

***

Filed under: "Doctors Only", Ethics, Experts Invited, Glossary Terms, Interviews, LifeStyle, Op-Editorials, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

RHETORIC: Ancient Art of Discourse

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

***

Wikipedia suggests that Rhetoric is the art of persuasion . It is one of the three ancient arts of discourse (trivium) along with grammar and logic/dialectic.

As an academic discipline within the humanities, rhetoric aims to study the techniques that speakers or writers use to inform, persuade, and motivate their audiences.

And, according to Professor Mackenzie Hope Marcinko PhD, rhetoric also provides heuristics for understanding, discovering, and developing arguments for particular situations.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Refer, Subscribe and Like

***

***

***

Filed under: Career Development, Ethics, Experts Invited, Glossary Terms, Interviews, LifeStyle | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »