Why We Make Mistakes

Title:
Why We Make Mistakes - Full Blog

Reference:
Hallinan, Joseph.  Why We Make Mistakes.  Random House, Inc.c New York.  2009

Summary:
Why we make mistakes discusses reasons that people make mistakes along with how mistakes are made.  Most of the mistakes that people make are on the subconscious level and, thus, on the one hand have no control over.  We often get use to doing things a certain way and due to our personal bias we take something to mean another - that which it is not suppose to.  In order to make things simpler we often classify or stereotype things so that we do not forget the minute details we so often miss.  In simplifying things, we also cut out the seemingly unnecessary details which may lead to errors.

Our memories are not very good at all, but it has been found that our spacial memory is much better than our rote memory; we can easily recognize a face but not so much a name.  This can also happen because we are in the wrong frame of mind.  It is easier for us to recognize something in its original context than an unfamiliar one.  Mnemonic devices aid in our memory of things because it is important to make associations within our brain of connections between related items in order to remember them.  This adds meaning to the memory.

We look at the good things we like and appreciate in good scenarios but discredit things we dislike.  This shows more bias on our part, but also shows how hard it is for us to overcome something we are use to doing - we do not pay attention to the details.

Just as a computer cannot multitask, we cannot multitask.  We can only simulate it.  This is done when one of the activities can be pushed into the subconscious.  We also skim material to look for patterns rather than go through all and look at the details.

We like to do things on our own rather than follow directions.  Men are worse about this than women.  We think more of ourselves than we ought; we are very overconfident.  We also see situations more favorable than the one we are in.  We feel we can do it all.

In conclusion, we should think realistically, plan ahead, get good sleep, don't make money our god, and learn to love the things in our particular environment.

Discussion:
This book first of all was very refreshing coming off of three Donald Norman books.  This was the best book that we read.  It gave great insight into ways we make mistakes in order that we can think about them more and hopefully change our ways.  The most important part of the book for me was in the conclusion.  For one, it was one of the best conclusions I have ever read because it summarized and gave the take-home points the book was trying to convey.  Also I like the idea of finding the things we like in the environment we are in.  So often I find myself being dissatisfied with where I am and yearning for more.  While that is not always a bad thing, if I cannot cherish the good things about the circumstance that I am in I feel like it would be easy for me to become burnt out and lose my purpose.