Naive realism: things are as I see them

Naive realism defines a type of bias that orbits around egocentrism. It is thinking that we have the ability to see reality as it is, as if there were no prejudices, falsehoods or double meanings in it. They are people who depend exclusively on their own point of view to interpret the world, leaving aside other perspectives and possibilities.

“All people with such a political inclination are noble by nature.” “As I was a good leader at school and at university, I know that I will be able to establish myself as someone of reference in this new job that I am going to start.” “I believe all the people who recycle are men and women who can be trusted.”

This type of reasoning is an example of naive or egocentric bias. Thus, and beyond the fact that they make us smile because of their simplicity or because they are marked by a certain innocence, in reality, they also exude a somewhat totalitarian aspect. They are polarized reasoning, somewhat narcissistic and defined by maintaining an incomplete vision of the world..

Let’s delve a little deeper into this psychological bias.

Naive realism, what does it consist of?

Naive realism has its roots in the philosophy of perception. According to this framework, it is understood that there are people who apply a type of consciousness that makes them believe that everything they perceive through their senses (along with the interpretation they make of each stimulus) is a reflection of the authenticity of the outside world. Simply put “What I see or what I feel is the only truth.”

In this innocent, and even egocentric, perspective, dispenses with all sense of reflection and critical perspective. Thus, there are those who prefer to withdraw the term naïve and define it rather as “simple realism” to emphasize a specific fact. The one in which it is suggested that many of us already apply this bias on a daily basis and we do so, for example, when we consider every stimulus that comes to us as valid.

If they tell me on television that this product is the best for my hair, I believe it and look for it in the supermarket. If the news I am reading on social media tells me something shocking, I consider it valid and share it..

All of these behaviors that are so common today undoubtedly describe a dangerous type of bias. It is the one in which we do not doubt what comes to us, the one in which we internalize certain things to the point of not questioning them, and even distrusting anyone who tries to give us other arguments.

When we depend too much on our point of view

We all depend, in some way on our point of view to understand and interpret the world. And for this to happen, it is the right thing to do; It is a good starting point. Nevertheless, In the living room of our mind we must leave room for more furniture:

To the awareness that, sometimes, we can make mistakes in our interpretations. We must assume that our truth is not the only one that exists.Absolute certainties are never entirely good. We must accept that, although it hurts, things may not always be as we believe or expect. Without a critical (and self-critical) sense, intelligence dies. We must exercise the ability to relativize, reflect and be open to other possibilities and perspectives.. Because all of this is what feeds authentic wisdom.

Depending completely and absolutely on our interpretations, justifications and opinions is like living in a living room with the windows closed. We do not receive light or oxygen.

Naive realism, the cognitive bias of unreality

We call naïve realism that bias that considers things to be as one perceives them. Thus, psychologist and popularizer Angela Duckworth, from the University of Pennsylvania, tells us that people, on average, We have the subtle tendency to confuse our subjective perspective with objective and universal reality. And no, it is not the same.

We are so attached to our subjectivity that What we often do is live in complete unreality. Not reconsidering our opinions, not accepting that our beliefs may be wrong or not understanding that it is always good to open up to other perspectives, causes us to remain stranded. It causes us to remain isolated in a world that is not real.

In the face of naive realism intellectual humility

Things are not black or white. In reality, the world is made of shades of gray. Not by defending an idea tooth and nail will it end up being true. And not because I want it, certain things happen in one way and not another. Life, the reality that we perceive and that happens every second is variable, it changes, it moves, it transforms…

Naive realism, like much of the biases that adhere to our minds, put filters and barbed wire for our progress. They are not useful, they do not suit us. Thus, A valuable strategy that never fails and that we should install in our brain from this moment on is intellectual humility.

It is that ideal and successful mechanism that reminds us that we are all fallible. Also, it is good to attend to more perspectives than our own. That is what enriches us most as human beings.

Let’s keep it in mind.

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