Thinking Fast and Slow: How to Make Better Decisions - [Cognitive Biases #6]

The surprising psychology of rationality, bias, numbers and happiness can improve your decision-making. Daniel Kahneman's 'Thinking Fast and Slow' explores the interplay between our fast, intuitive thinking (System 1) and our slow, rational thinking (System 2). Sam discusses various cognitive biases and how our thinking systems cause them such as the anchoring effect, availability heuristic, confirmation bias, and overconfidence bias. He also covers fundamental theories like prospect theory and the peak-end rule, offering practical insights on fostering happiness and making better life choices. Stay tuned to learn more about how our brains work and how we can use this knowledge for self-improvement. Sponsors: ManScaped: Men's grooming at its best. 20% Off + Free Shipping - code 'GROWTH' - ManScaped.com/Growth ShortForm: Summaries of the world's best books. Free trial + 20% off - code 'PSYCHOLOGY' - ShortForm.com/Psychology SleepyClub: Doctor-approved natural sleeping aid that improves sleep quality. 20% discount - code 'GROWTH20' - SleepyClub.co.uk Further Reading: Thinking Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman Predictably Irrational - Dan Ariely Further Listening Enjoyed this episode? Check out the rest of the Cognitive Ciases series: Ego Blindspots: 9 Cognitive Biases to Avoid - [May 7th] Human Nature vs. Money: Battling Irrationality & Thinking Traps [May 19th] Confirmation Bias and the 7 Sins of Lazy Thinking - [June 4th] Reality Distortion and the 7 Illusions of Perception Impact Everyone - [June 18th] Cognitive Rigidity and How Einstein Overcame the 5 Biases that Keep Us Stuck - [June 19th] [YOU ARE HERE] - Thinking Fast and Slow Meet Sam Free Call - Schedule Link Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) Website - GrowthMindsetPodcast.com Insta - SamJam.zen Newsletter - Expansive Thinking Chapters: 00:00 Understanding Cognitive Biases, comedy and systems of thinking 02:50 Deep Dive into System One and System Two Thinking 04:15 How System 1 and System 2 Work Together 05:40 System 1's Impact on Decision Making 07:18 System 1 and Politics 10:20 The Teenage Brain and System 2 Development 11:24 Cognitive Biases and Their Impact 16:34 The Law of Large Numbers 21:29 Prospect Theory and Risk Assessment 21:46 The Cookie Analogy: Understanding Loss Aversion 22:31 Rationality and Utility Theory in Economics 24:30 Prospect Theory: Perception of Value and Risk 26:06 Probability and Decision Making 28:19 The Experiencing Self vs. The Remembering Self 30:07 The Peak-End Rule and Its Impact on Memory 33:45 Balancing Moment-to-Moment Pleasure and Long-Term Satisfaction 36:56 The Focusing Illusion: What Really Matters 42:33 Final Thoughts and Recommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Most self-help advice is guesswork dressed up as wisdom. We dig into psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science to find what actually changes lives. WHY LISTEN? Over 8 million downloads because we answer the questions that matter: How do I build mental strength? What creates lasting motivation? How can I understand my own mind well enough to work with it, not against it? This podcast is for curious skeptics who want frameworks backed by psychology studies, not Instagram quotes. Whether you're navigating procrastination, building self-discipline, or designing your own philosophy for a life well lived—we explore the hidden psychology behind real change. WHAT YOU'LL GET Mental models and simple techniques from cognitive psychology, positive psychology, and ancient wisdom traditions like Stoicism and Buddhism. Being a human can be confusing, learning about it doesn’t have to be. We cover everything from emotional intelligence and habit formation to brain health and the nervous system. WHAT YOU DON’T GET No pseudoscience. No oversimplified "hacks." No hustle porn. Just practical insights on mindset improvement, self-development, and human psychology that respect your intelligence and mental health. THE APPROACH Instead of telling you what to think, we explore how thinking works. Armed with psychology studies, social science research, and relentless curiosity, we uncover the mechanics of belief change, attitude change, and personal development. Success is personal. You might want to leverage your neurodiverse strengths, build a business, or simply discover how to be happier. We provide the mental frameworks to pursue your definition of success with mental strength and self-care that fits your life. YOUR HOST I'm Sam Webster Harris—a lifelong learner with ADHD and an obsession with finding answers to hard questions. After launching businesses, traveling the world, and nearly dying a few times, I concluded that psychology and science are where real wisdom lives. This show is my excuse to dive deep into health and fitness research, behavioral psychology, and cool science while helping you build genuine self-discipline and motivation. PREMIUM Go ad-free and access exclusive content, AMAs, and our community Discord. Growth Mindset Premium PAST SERIES Previous guests include Olympians, Scientists, Billionaires, and Sam's Mum. Past series: — Psychology vs Stoicism — Time Management for Busy Mortals — Independence and Knowing Yourself — Cognitive Biases and Rational Thinking — Psychology of Connection and Relationships — Carol Dweck and the Multiverse of Mindsets — Addiction and Behaviour Change — Nervous System Mastery and Polyvagal Theory — Mental Strength and Self-Discipline