The dangers of binary thinking
Binary thinking, or otherwise known as black or white thinking, is the mindset that there are only two sides to a statement. A “Yes” or “No” answer, or a blanket statement like “All rich people are evil”.
There is comfort in binary thinking, the certainty that this black or white frame of mind provides, the feeling that we can be right in an uncertain world.
This type of thinking, however, is dangerous due to the tunnel vision that accompanies it, coupled with the fact that life is grey and people are never just one-dimensional as you initially thought.
Traces of binary thinking can be found from the concept of System 1 and System 2 thinking covered in the best-selling book “Thinking Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman. In the book, Kahneman states that System 1 thinking is fast, instinctive, and emotional. System 1 thinking can then be seen as a form of binary thinking. System 2 thinking on the other hand is slower, more deliberate, and more logical, a type of thinking that is more balanced and encompassing compared to System 1 thinking.
Most people tend to default to binary thinking thanks to it being quick and easy. Snap judgments and initial biases are some common examples of binary thinking. The person does not stop to consider context or second guess their thought process behind their impressions.
This is not to say that binary thinking does not have its uses. Binary thinking can be helpful in scenarios where snap judgments are needed to protect yourself. Take for example a kid’s experience with fire. When young, the kid might not know the dangers of fire. Once the kid learns either from someone else or through experience, the knowledge becomes a useful frame of reference when dealing with future similar scenarios that could be dangerous to the kid.
When taken to the extremes though, binary thinking can act as a barrier to learning about other potential situations and lead to irrational behavior. Take for example the aforementioned kid learning about the dangers of fire. An extreme example of binary thinking would be when the kid gets hurt by fire, he or she ends up labeling fire as “bad” in all situations. The kid would then never use fire in cooking, heating metals to form useful tools or even lighting a fire to stay warm in the cold.
These examples might sound preposterous, but they show how people can fall into the trap of binary thinking; by labeling certain groups of individuals that do not agree with their viewpoints as evil or bad.
The opposite of binary thinking, however, shows us a more well-balanced approach that forces us to consider the full picture.
System 2 thinking requires you to take into account the context of the situation, empathize with others, and not fall into the trap of relying on your first impressions and snap judgments.
Take for example a situation where you come home, tired from a long day at work where your overbearing boss had spent the better half of the afternoon screaming at the team, and find out that your significant did not take out the trash as they promised.
Instead of lashing out in anger at the failed task, you instead notice your significant other seems to be down, their posture slumped, eyes a bit wet, and missing their usual smile when they greet you at home.
You thus take a second to compose yourself, take a deep breath and ask if something happened during the day that seemed to cause this reaction. You find out that your significant other found out that their father had fallen ill and had to be taken to the hospital, which caused them to be distracted and worried throughout the day.
By taking the time to pull yourself back and use System 2 thinking, you managed to avoid a fight that would have run high with emotion.
Apply that same situation to a group that you might not agree with. You might initially think all vegans are crazy hippies who push their beliefs on everyone and might secretly be part of some new-age cult.
Once you take the time to meet and talk to these people, however, you start to realize that they are actually just human beings like you, with their own set of values, beliefs and friends. You start to have an open conversation with them, understanding what drives them and their reasoning behind their way of life.
At the end of the discussion, you would walk away with a mutual respect for one another and, even though you both had different opinions, you understand that everyone has a right to their viewpoints. You might even walk away with a new perspective, or even helped open the other individual’s mind to different ways of thinking.
Only by avoiding the traps of binary thinking and labeling certain groups or things as one dimensional can we start taking the steps to becoming more understanding and thoughtful individuals.
