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Quite dizzying, isn’t it?
What this enigma reveals about our way of reasoning
This kind of riddle has a very specific name in psychology: lateral thinking . It’s the ability to think outside the box, to bypass habitual patterns in order to access unexpected solutions. And frankly, not all of us are naturally comfortable with that!
Our brain operates on the principle of energy conservation. It systematically takes the fastest, most familiar route. This mechanism serves us well in our daily lives—but it can also lead us into significant misinterpretations.
These mental shortcuts that play tricks on us every day
Ultimately, this little puzzle is like a mirror held up to our everyday lives. How often do we jump to conclusions without even realizing it?
We imagine a friend is angry with us… when she’s simply exhausted. We anticipate the worst when a message goes unanswered… even though her phone was on silent. We interpret silence as rejection… when the other person was just thinking about their shopping list.
Our mental processes tell us stories. And these stories are far from always being true to reality.