Signal Detection Part 2
Principles of Action for Groups of 2 or More
What would the world be like if we were all better at separating signal from noise? If we were a network of people that saw through lies, sniffed out bullshit, and tuned into what was truly meaningful in our lives?
A fantasy I agree, so how about this.
What would your life be like if you were part of a small network of people that were better at separating signal from noise? Moreover, what if as a network, you were greater than the sum of your individual abilities?
A small network is a very real possibility. The network effect guarantees the greater outcome.
The rest of this post is a set of principles of action to help you create and develop a signal detecting network of like-minded people.
In Signal Detection: Part 1 we looked at what we can do, by ourselves, to address cognitive biases and heuristics.
Then, in 4 Heads Are Better Than 1 we played a simple game that demonstrated that deductive reasoning works exponentially better when we work together.
Below I have outlined 8 points for consideration when working in partnership with someone. The aim is to help each other overcome biases as best we can.
If we all reacted the same way, we'd be predictable, and there's always more than one way to view a situation. What's true for the group is also true for the individual. It's simple: overspecialize, and you breed in weakness. It's slow death. - Motoko Kusanagi (character from Ghost in the Shell).
Cognitive partnerships
Here are 8 points for consideration when working in partnership with someone. The aim is to help each other overcome each others biases.
Awareness
Make sure you are both aware of the fact many types of cognitive biases and heuristics that exist, and if possible acknowledge what you are prone to.
Overconfidence
It is easy to be overconfident or ignore certain information, particularly if you are looking for confirmation of what you already believe. Question each other’s confidence in what is “known”.
Past mistakes
If you are able to identify where past mistakes were made, you may find patterns that you can address. It may take some time working together before you can see your partners patterns. Returning to data as a basic principle is a good way to address repeated mistakes.
Curiosity
Being curious about how your partner arrives at conclusions, pausing to ask questions, can help them override their assumptions.
Humility and growth
Cognitive ability can be developed and learning from criticism is key. Framing criticism constructively helps. Being open to your partners criticism is of fundamental importance, making humility the groundwork for growth.
Irritation
“Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to understanding ourselves” — Carl Jung. This timeless truth is a great guide to weeding out biases. The self reflection is not easy, but asking your partner for their opinion on the same information may help to root out any active bias. If you partner is the source of your irritation then there is a chance to explore different perspectives and how you can work together more effectively.
Devil’s advocate
Trying to understand an issue from both sides can make you a stronger critical thinker. Playing the devil’s advocate for each other is a simple way to explore your initial assessments.
Falsifiability
Whenever you want something to be true you are primed toward bias. The scientific method relies on a proposition being falsifiable. Take time to try and find information that counters what you believe. Work together to check the viability of opposing information.
We need to develop an effective mindset to be able to remain open to feedback, and to provide feedback in a useful fashion.
An effective mindset
Cognitive partnerships are challenging, in particular, to have our assumptions and beliefs questioned challenges our worldview, our very identity. A typical neurological response to this is the threat response.
Threat shuts down our inhibition, hence anger, fear, aggression. We go into fight, flight, or freeze mode. We literally stop reasoning as the hippocampus reorganises memories to feed the amygdala's defensive position. Separating signal from noise under these conditions is close to impossible.
It is important to be aware of this, both within ourselves and those that we seek cognitive partnership with. We need to develop an effective mindset to be able to remain open to feedback, and to provide feedback in a useful fashion. This is a challenge!
Here I refer back to Sensing Signal and Sine Identitatis in Signal Detection: Part 1 as self development methods that you can do alone to develop an effective mindset.
The Empathy Circle
This is by far the best method I have come across for partnerships or groups to develop meaningful and constructive dialogue.
It is a structured dialogue process that can be learned in about 15 minutes, and dramatically deepens listening skills, neutralising defensive positioning, whilst affording clarity of shared understanding.
This practice will help any group of people that have a genuine intention to work together develop the skills to do so more effectively.
Rather than me trying to reinvent the wheel here is a link to The Empathy Circle website as well as a video below where you can see it in practice.
I believe this is the groundwork on which signal detection can be built.
To sacrifice our sacred cows, abandon our group identities, and stand alone against the crowd, are acts of courage. As more of us that take these steps, and find each other through real-life and online social networks, a decentralised complex of signal detection may form.
The power and efficiency of a signal detecting Stand Alone Complex is unknown, the benefits of the network effect suggest exponential increases in both. But for it to work we also need to be able to work together.
We are, after all, intrinsically networked beings. It is in our nature to work together, to collaborate, to co-operate. Anything that divides us should be treated with with at least scepticism if not outright suspicion.
The human body resonates at the same frequency as Mother Earth. So instead of only focusing on trying to save the earth, which operates in congruence to our vibrations, I think it is more important to be one with each other. If you really want to remedy the earth, we have to mend mankind. And to unite mankind, we heal the Earth. That is the only way. Mother Earth will exist with or without us. Yet if she is sick, it is because mankind is sick and separated. And if our vibrations are bad, she reacts to it, as do all living creatures. - Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun.