Simplicity bias

About

Simplicity bias is a cognitive bias towards holding views which can be explained by a simple narrative, as opposed to views which take more complex details into account and are generally more accurate, realistic, and "balanced".

This bias is due to the fact that detailed memory is a scarce resource and that it is much easier to remember details that fit neatly into a one-sided conclusion.

Simplicity bias has not been formally studied and so far has only been observed anecdotally; it is as yet an untested hypothesis -- but it is quite similar to the better-known confirmation bias, which causes one to ignore evidence that doesn't support one's existing beliefs. It differs in that it seems to take effect during the phase of reaching a conclusion (where simplicity bias causes a preference for the simpler/simplest explanation) rather than after having done so (where confirmation bias causes a preference for information that reinforces the conclusion already chosen).

Effects

Simplicity bias is one of the largest causes of partisanship: having been exposed to the facts supporting one side of a dispute, it becomes much more difficult to remember facts which do not support that side. Individuals thus tend to favor the "side" to which they were first exposed, regardless of new evidence.

Related

• Simplicity bias has an interesting relationship with Occam's razor.
• Simplicity bias is related to confirmation bias, the Semmelweis reflex, the clustering illusion, and possibly other cognitive biases.

Solution

One method of overcoming this bias, for any given subject, is as follows:

• Write down a summary of every known significant fact about the subject.
• In a separate designated area, write down any conclusions that seem to follow from these facts.
• As new information is encountered, add these facts to the collection regardless of whether they appear to support the current conclusions.
• If new information does seem to counter any existing conclusions, review the entire body of fact-summaries and make any necessary changes to the conclusions written.
  • If possible, keep a log of the changes made to these conclusions so that this can be tracked over time; if you are keeping your records on a wiki, this is generally automatic.
• When making decisions on the subject, always consult your written conclusions (in case you remembered them wrong), and always be prepared to add new information if it is encountered in the course of further discussion.

This overcomes the unavailability of adequate storage capability in most people's minds, and allows every important detail to be accounted for. It also greatly facilitates sharing of evidence, which is vital for rational discussion and improves the detectability of one's own rationality.

Quotes

It can scarcely be denied that the supreme goal of all theory is to make the irreducible basic elements as simple and as few as possible without having to surrender the adequate representation of a single datum of experience.

—Albert Einstein (Wikiquote)
often paraphrased as "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no[t] simpler."
e.g. Influence, Robert Cialdini, quote for Chapter 1